Berlin: Zero-Emission-Zone from 2030?

At their caucus meeting last Saturday, the Berlin Greens unanimously agreed on a concept to turn around the transportation system of the Capital. .The party's regional association in Berlin is counting on a so-called CO2 toll and call buses, as well as on a ban on the use of internal combustion engines on inner-city streets. However, the Greens' plan was not welcomed with open arms by the coalition partners.  

In particular, the introduction of a so-called CO2 toll was not desired by other parties. This would be a toll for every car journey within the S-Bahn ring. The amount would be based on the amount of CO2 emissions the vehicle is expected to cause. The aim would not only be the indirect regulation of emissions in the inner city, but also a fairer distribution of the costs of road traffic and the financing of the mobility turnaround. According to the SPD, however, this would be nothing other than the city toll that the Greens have been demanding for years, now under a different guise. The Social Democrats thus continue to cancel and maintain their position. "The congestion charge is not part of the coalition agreement. It is not agreed and it will not remain agreed. Full stop," states SPD parliamentary group leader Raed Saleh. 

Part of the so-called mobility turnaround resolution is also the creation of a call bus system, as it is to start in Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Lichtenberg and Treptow-Köpenick in the third quarter of this year. The new service is to differ from the old "BerlKönig" especially in its area of operation. In contrast to the latter, which mainly operates in the city centre, the new call bus will, according to BVG, be used more in the outskirts of the city, in tariff zone B. The service area will therefore be extended and will include the entire city. The travel area will therefore expand and the buses will be able to run around the clock in an area of over 60 square kilometres from the summer onwards. As a supplement to local public transport, the new call buses will be more closely integrated into public transport tariffs. Up to 8 passengers will be able to book the service via app and will always need a public transport ticket. There will be different tariff models depending on the function used.  

At the caucus retreat, it was also decided to create a zero-emission zone by 2030 at the latest. This means that cars with combustion engines will no longer be allowed to drive in the city centre. As with the CO2 toll, the SPD sees the success of the measure proposed by the Greens as unlikely.  

However, years after the introduction of environmental zones and in view of the gradual establishment of speed limits, it is indispensable to take further steps in shaping the mobility of the future. According to transport senator Bettina Jarasch, this should not only be about traffic electrification, but much more about having significantly fewer cars on the road in the future.