The Climate Change and Energy Transition Act is clear. Before 2023, all municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, as well as island regions in Spain, must form a Low Emissions Zone (ZBE).. This obligation will also apply to municipalities with a population of more than 20,000 when the pollution levels specified in Royal Decree 102/2011 of 28 January on the improvement of air quality are exceeded.
These zones should not only limit the entry of polluting vehicles, but also facilitate healthy forms of movement for citizens, such as cycling or walking on “urban green corridors”.
Moreoverensure the development and use of e public transportIt will need to move towards electrification or, on the other hand, the use of emission-free fuels such as biomethane. It also includes the need to have plans to promote dedicated electric mobility, which implies the creation of charging points.
In fact, associations for the defense of the environment such as Ecologists in Action insist: these LEZs should not only focus on road traffic limitation, but should also be accompanied by “ambitious” mobility plans. promoting the use of public transport as well as leading citizens towards a change in travel, from private traffic to non-motorised vehicles.
In this way, it will be possible not only to improve the air quality of large cities, but also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
“This is a vitally important issue, because Road transport is one of the main emitters of CO2 and accounts for 26% of total emissions in the Spanish Province. Given the climatic emergency we live in, this double objective must be imperative”, noting the ‘Low Emission Zones’ in the Ecologistas en Acción report. Tool against pollution and global warming’.
So like cities Around 150 municipalities across the country, such as Valencia, Córdoba, Málaga, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Pontevedra and others, are already designing and implementing low emission zones. To comply with the Climate Change Act.
However, Spain has created Low Emission Zones such as Madrid and Barcelona, the country’s two nerve centres.
Madrid
In the case of the Spanish capital, the low emission zone It entered into force in 2018 under the name of ‘Madrid Central’. and with the approval of the European Commission. In fact, it was the first Spanish city to design and implement a low-emission zone in its metropolitan area.
It was an area of 472 hectares, covering almost the entire city center. General traffic is restricted to this restricted area, with the exceptions of residents, public transport, vehicles of certain groups and the least polluting according to DGT.
A year later, pollutant emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from passenger cars were reduced by 38% and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 14%, according to a study by the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM).
This measure was overturned by the courts and Rescued by a new Sustainable Mobility Regulation meaning a new name ‘Distrito Centro’ and expand access for ZBE merchants with the same rights as residents.
Barcelona
As of January 1, 2020, Barcelona has a 95 square kilometer Low Emission Zone. it includes almost the entire municipality of Barcelona, the surrounding towns of Sant Adrià de Besòs and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, and part of the municipalities Esplugues de Llobregat and Cornellà de Llobregat.
The site is operational from 7am to 8pm, and with its commissioning, it aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% through the phasing out of the most polluting vehicles without environmental labels.
However, in this case, The future of ZBE is uncertain as the Catalonian Supreme Court of Justice canceled this initiative., due to the lack of adequate reports and excessively stringent measures. For now, however, the City Council is keeping the ZBE in effect.
This regulation includes restrictions on access, movement and parking of vehicles according to their polluting potential; fulfills the minimum requirements for low-emission zones in terms of air quality, energy efficiency and noise, and encourages coordination between public administrations and municipalities, including the possibility of establishing supra-municipal low-emission zones in addition to the applicable sanction regime.
A four-year adaptation period is also envisaged for projects in low emission zones established prior to the enactment of this royal decree.
Europe
low emission zones old acquaintances for major European metropolises. Some of these cities have been implementing these measures for ten or even twenty years. and fully operational to reduce pollution in urban areas.
Berlin It is one of the examples with its ZBE, which has been in operation since January 2008 and has been updated in previous years. It covers an area of 88 square kilometers and is bounded by a circular tram line.
Ecologistas en Acción points out that in the first year of its opening, vehicles without an environmental label (Euro 1) decreased by 70%.
London Another of the European cities that has made the most progress in limiting road traffic. Already in 2003, it established a “congestion tax” for the central district of the capital, that is, a mandatory toll of about 12 euros to enter this area by car.
In 2019, the Ultra Low Emissions Zone was opened, expanding the environment in 2021 and affecting diesel vehicles before 2015 and petrol vehicles before 2006.
In the case of MilanAs of 2012, a combination of LEZs and tolls came into effect, creating two large concentric zones in the Italian city, including an area of 128 square kilometers and a toll based on environmental criteria.
There are larger cases such as Hollandwhich has a national framework for regulating low-emission zones, called “ambient zones”. Thus, municipalities are divided into yellow, green or purple perimeter zones according to vehicle type.
What are Spain’s 2030 targets?
The Climate Change and Energy Transition Law also sets the minimum targets that the country must meet by 2030, which the UN itself sets as the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development goals adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Replace what are known as the Millennium Goals.
In the case of Spain, within eight years the country The national economy as a whole must have reduced greenhouse gases by at least 23%. According to 1990 levels.
Likewise, by 2030, energies from renewable sources should have achieved a penetration of at least 42% in final energy consumption. With regard to the electrical system, the purpose is to At least 74% electricity generation from these renewable energies.
Until then, another of the aspirations is Spain’s energy efficiency. at least 39.5% reduction in primary energy consumption regarding those marked by community regulations.
With all this, before 2050, which the law accepts as “the shortest possible time”, the country’s climate neutrality
On the other hand, the law leaves the door open for a review of all these targets, as an upward update of the flagged greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts.
In addition, these revisions adapting national goals to international commitments Like the Paris Agreement to comply with European Union regulations or to adapt to technological and scientific developments. These reviews will begin in 2023.
Environment department contact address:[email protected]
Source: Informacion
