Air pollution: Poland introduces environmental zones
Starting in Krakow and Warsaw, high-emission vehicles will be driven out of Polish cities from mid-2024. Environmental zones based on the European model are supposed to regulate road traffic and reduce pollutant levels in the air. However, constant postponements and logistical problems with implementation raise fears of further delays - to the regret of citizens and the environment.
As in many regions around the world, air pollution is a cause for concern in Poland - 46,000 people die each year as a result of air pollution. Especially in the coming winter, the authorities predict that pollution levels will increase. Experts fear that they will even double. This is because, as reported by local and international media, the current energy crisis will force a worrying majority of the population to use whatever means available to heat their homes - from cardboard and plastic to waste materials found on the streets. It is therefore now more important than ever to reduce pollutant emissions where it is possible - starting with transport.
However, many concrete measures taken in other European cities to reduce pollution have not yet found their place in Poland. Too often, for example, plans for the introduction of low-traffic, low-emission zones have been halted at the consultation stage. In recent months, however, the debate on this issue has intensified, along with widespread concern about pollution and its impact on citizens' health.
Last June, even the European Commission had decided to establish so-called "clean transport zones" as part of a broader national recovery plan for the country. They are to be used in all cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants where the permissible air pollution levels have been proven to be exceeded. Nevertheless, no municipality in Poland has so far implemented the European Union's instructions in practice. But this is soon to change. Because in the framework of the "New Mobility Congress", local government officials and experts have finally worked out a plan for the optimal implementation of low emission zones.
It is not only the European Union or the influence of neighbouring countries, where low-emission zones have almost become standard, that are pushing Poland to act. The pressure to act also comes from below - with around 60 percent of the population supporting the implementation of a clean air plan. When this will become reality, nationwide, cannot be said with certainty. The authorities are encountering a wide variety of difficulties. Among other things, the public transport infrastructure, which is often underdeveloped and unevenly distributed compared to other European cities, is a problem.
The connection to a reliable public transport network is fundamental to the success of the upcoming low emission zones. As they will ban the circulation of diesel and petrol cars because of their polluting emissions, Polish public transport services must be able to keep up with the increasing demand. Especially where citizens cannot currently afford to switch to more climate-friendly vehicles. Therefore, it does not seem surprising that of the 24.3 million vehicles currently registered, the number of electric cars is only 22,000 - that is 0.09 percent.
Consequently, it is once again the larger cities that have the chance to initiate the traffic turnaround and create real environmental zones along the lines of European cities in Poland. Krakow in particular seems to be making progress and is close to realising the project.
Originally planned for 2023, the city administration has now postponed the introduction of the low emission zones to July 2024 after several delays. From then on, all cars and buses of classes M1, M2 and M3, as well as commercial vehicles of classes N1 to N3, with fossil fuel engines will no longer be allowed to drive in the city if they do not comply with the relevant emission classes - but these will be much more lenient than initially planned. However, these driving bans, which were initially only planned for the inner city, will be extended to the entire city area and thus encourage the majority of citizens to switch to more sustainable means of transport. On the other hand, anyone who will continue to drive a vehicle that does not comply with the new regulations will have to pay a one-time transit fee to enter the Krakow Low Emission Zone for the first three years after it comes into effect - or take out a monthly subscription. Otherwise, a fine of up to 500 złoty will be imposed.
However, the plan presented by Krakow is not yet a final decision. It will only come towards the end of this year, after another vote in October. Things are no different in Warsaw - here, further consultations with the citizens are due at the beginning of next year. However, it is "too late", at least in the eyes of the representatives of the citizens' initiative "Polski Alarm Smogowy" (PAS), to counteract the problem of air pollution in time - and thus to be able to ensure citizens healthier living conditions already in the coming months. Instead, the PAS proposes that the low emission zone in Krakow should come into force with a gradual system from July 2023 at the latest. It hopes that Krakow's action will serve as a good example for other cities, so that they in turn will also decide to introduce low emission zones more quickly in the rest of Poland. Among others, Lodz, Wroclaw, Zabrze, Gliwice, Rzeszów, Bydgoszcz and Gdansk are also interested in introducing an environmental zone.
The more they will wait for it, the more critical the pollutant levels in the air will become. An undesirable outcome, not only because it does not meet international climate protection targets - but above all because it poses an immediate threat to Poland's air quality, the environment and ultimately the health of its citizens.