Latest news with #ZFE
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
France could scrap its version of Ulez
France could abandon its version of ultra-low-emission zones as lawmakers debate a bill aimed at simplifying environmental regulations. Members of the French parliament are set to vote on whether to scrap the scheme or to scale it back, with critics arguing that it unfairly punishes poorer motorists who are unable to change vehicles. Under French laws passed in 2019 and 2021, local authorities whose urban areas exceed regulatory air-quality thresholds must set up low-emission zones (ZFE). The aim is to cut emissions of fine particles, which authorities say are responsible for 48,000 deaths a year in France, by excluding certain old or polluting vehicles. Some 24 towns and cities, notably Paris and Lyon, as well as Grenoble and Montpellier, have introduced these to varying degrees. Since Jan 1, no private diesel cars registered before 2011 or petrol cars registered before 2006 are allowed to drive in these four cities. Vehicles that enter such zones must carry 'Crit'Air' stickers proving their low-pollution levels. Those who fail to comply risk being hit by a fine of up to €135. All French cities with more than 150,000 residents are supposed to introduce ZFE this year. But a group of MPs from the National Rally and the Right – along with a few independents and MPs from Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance group – have tabled a proposal to scrap the low-emission zones altogether. When drawing up the plan, the Left abstained, suggesting wide support. The measure will be debated in the National Assembly as part of a wider law on 'simplifying economic life' in France. If the law is passed, Le Monde, the newspaper, estimates that almost three million vehicles banned from the roads in big cities will be able to enter them once again. Defenders of the scheme point to studies showing they significantly reduce air pollution and respiratory disease. But many motorists and politicians have warned that rolling out such zones more widely could spark a huge public backlash, mainly from poorer motorists who are unaware of the changes or unable to pay to upgrade or change their vehicles in time. As half of motorists coming into ZFEs live outside the towns, they do not qualify for certain aid or dispensations. Last Sunday, demonstrations against ZFE were staged in Paris, Toulouse and other cities. 'Accepting ZFE means accepting punitive and anti-social environmental measures,' Jordan Bardella, the National Rally leader, said recently. Laurent Wauquiez, the head of the conservative Republicans Party in parliament, said they 'lead to social anger, territorial division and economic suicide'. In February, François Bayrou, the prime minister, said that 'it is the poorest, those who cannot afford it, who live far away, who are the victims'. The result of any vote will largely depend on turnout in France's fractured parliament. Although there is a slim chance that all ZFE will be scrapped, it is more likely that the scheme will be watered down The government hopes to persuade MPs to keep the legislation with an amendment that would only oblige Paris and Lyon to implement the zones due to their pollution levels being twice above WHO recommendations. In other cases, it will be up to town halls to decide whether they want to go ahead with them. The government is desperate not to see the entire low-emission scheme scrapped as it risks having to reimburse the European Union part of the €3.3 billion in funds earmarked for ZFE this year alone. France is due to receive €40.3 billion to support its implementation. 'We then want to give the municipalities the freedom to implement the measures they want for air quality,' Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the ecological transition minister, told Le Figaro newspaper. 'Pollution is a major public-health issue. It is the most vulnerable who are impacted, those who live close to roads, especially those living in social housing. ZFEs are one of the tools for reducing air pollution, particularly in large conurbations. 'Everyone has the right to move around, but also to breathe. There is a dual objective: the health of the French people and social justice. That is what is at stake in this amendment.' In a separate initiative, some 35 MPs from the Right, the centrist MoDem and the independent Liot group have tabled another bill that will be examined in parliament in the coming weeks calling for a five-year moratorium on the scheme. London has the world's largest pollution-charging scheme, Ulez, which was implemented in the city centre in 2019 before expanding to all of Greater London's nine million residents in 2023. It requires motorists to switch to low-emission vehicles or face a daily charge of £12.50 for driving a polluting car within the zone. Its expansion saw fierce opposition from outer London residents, with local councils launching unsuccessful legal challenges and hundreds of ULEZ cameras vandalised by disgruntled people. In Paris and Lyon, the system currently relies on random police controls, and it is unclear when automated number-plate checks will be introduced. Despite the controversy, experts have insisted that low-emission zones work. 'Introducing a clean air zone, in particular Ulez, has wider societal benefits,' said Christopher Griffiths, a senior author and professor at London's Queen Mary University. He told AFP that 'the data is clear that the Ulez has delivered a massive improvement in air quality beyond what was expected or predicted' and said clean air schemes across Europe 'are the one public health tool that we have that is being shown to be effective'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Telegraph
09-04-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
France could scrap its version of Ulez
France could abandon its version of ultra-low-emission zones as lawmakers debate a bill aimed at simplifying environmental regulations. Members of the French parliament are set to vote on whether to scrap the scheme or to scale it back, with critics arguing that it unfairly punishes poorer motorists who are unable to change vehicles. Under French laws passed in 2019 and 2021, local authorities whose urban areas exceed regulatory air-quality thresholds must set up low-emission zones (ZFE). The aim is to cut emissions of fine particles – which authorities say are responsible for 48,000 deaths a year in France – by excluding certain old or polluting vehicles. Some 24 towns and cities, notably Paris and Lyon, as well as Grenoble and Montpellier, have introduced these to varying degrees. Since Jan 1, no private diesel cars registered before 2011 or petrol cars registered before 2006 are allowed to drive in these four cities. Vehicles who enter such zones must carry 'Crit'Air' stickers proving their low-pollution levels. Those who fail to comply risk being hit by a fine of up to €135. All French cites with more than 150,000 residents are supposed to introduce ZFE this year. 'Low-emission zones are economic suicide' But a group of MPs from the National Rally and the Right – along with a few independents and MPs from Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance group – have tabled a proposal to scrap the low-emission zones altogether. When drawing up the plan, the Left abstained, suggesting wide support. The measure will be debated in the National Assembly as part of a wider law on 'simplifying economic life' in France. If the law is passed, Le Monde, the newspaper, estimates that almost three million vehicles banned from the roads in big cities will be able to enter them once again. Defenders of the scheme point to studies showing they significantly reduce air pollution and respiratory disease. But many motorists and politicians have warned that rolling out such zones more widely could spark a huge public backlash, mainly from poorer motorists who are unaware of the changes or unable to pay to upgrade or change their vehicles in time. As half of motorists coming into ZFEs live outside the towns, they do not qualify for certain aid or dispensations. Last Sunday, demonstrations against ZFE were staged in Paris, Toulouse and other cities. 'Accepting ZFE means accepting punitive and anti-social environmental measures,' Jordan Bardella, the National Rally leader, said recently. Laurent Wauquiez, the head of the conservative Republicans Party in parliament, said they 'lead to social anger, territorial division and economic suicide'. In February, François Bayrou, the prime minister, said that 'it is the poorest, those who cannot afford it, who live far away, who are the victims'. The result of any vote will largely depend on turnout in France's fractured parliament. Although there is a slim chance that all ZFE will be scrapped, it is more likely that the scheme is watered down The government hopes to persuade MPs to keep the legislation with an amendment that would only oblige Paris and Lyon to implement the zones due to their pollution levels being twice above WHO recommendations. In other cases, it will be up to town halls to decide whether they want to go ahead with them. The government is desperate not to see the entire low-emission scheme scrapped as it risks having to reimburse the European Union part of the €3.3 billion in funds earmarked for ZFE this year alone. France is due to receive €40.3 billion to support its implementation. 'We then want to give the municipalities the freedom to implement the measures they want for air quality,' Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the ecological transition minister, told Le Figaro newspaper. 'Pollution is a major public-health issue. It is the most vulnerable who are impacted, those who live close to roads, especially those living in social housing. ZFEs are one of the tools for reducing air pollution, particularly in large conurbations. 'Everyone has the right to move around, but also to breathe. There is a dual objective: the health of the French people and social justice. That is what is at stake in this amendment.' In a separate initiative, some 35 MPs from the Right, the centrist MoDem and the independent Liot group have tabled another bill that will be examined in parliament in the coming weeks calling for a five-year moratorium on the scheme. London has the world's largest pollution-charging scheme, Ulez, which was implemented in the city centre in 2019 before expanding to all of Greater London's nine million residents in 2023. It requires motorists to switch to low-emission vehicles or face a daily charge of £12.50 for driving a polluting car within the zone. Its expansion saw fierce opposition from outer London residents, with local councils launching unsuccessful legal challenges and hundreds of ULEZ cameras vandalised by disgruntled people. In Paris and Lyon, the system currently relies on random police controls, and it is unclear when automated number-plate checks will be introduced. Despite the controversy, experts have insisted that low-emission zones work. 'Introducing a clean air zone, in particular Ulez, has wider societal benefits,' said Christopher Griffiths, a senior author and professor at London's Queen Mary University. He told AFP that 'the data is clear that the Ulez has delivered a massive improvement in air quality beyond what was expected or predicted' and said clean air schemes across Europe 'are the one public health tool that we have that is being shown to be effective'.
