Germany is on the right track. One might think. Because the country has managed to comply with the limit values for particulate matter and nitrogen oxide almost everywhere. But new WHO limits could mean that driving bans for petrol and diesel vehicles and new environmental zones will be introduced in hundreds of cities and regions.
Air pollution has a negative impact on health worldwide. It is estimated that a total of up to 4.2 million people die prematurely due to pollution in cities. In Europe, too, the limit values are exceeded by many countries.
Motorcyclists have a hard time: more and more cities don't want to let old combustion engines in. Added to this is the noise with which male and female riders make themselves unpopular in many places. A survey among drivers suggests that there will be fewer and fewer motorbikes in the future.
Poor air is responsible for nearly 13,000 premature deaths a year in Germany alone. The country has one of the highest nitrogen oxide concentrations in the EU. This affects not only the big cities, but also many medium-sized or small towns. Germany is trying to get a grip on the situation by introducing environmental zones, diesel driving bans and environmental lanes.
It already exists in many European countries: in Norway, Great Britain, Sweden and Italy, the congestion charge is already reducing traffic and increasing revenue in some cities. Transport experts are now calling for the introduction of a toll in German cities as well.
The EU's plan to drastically reduce the share of internal combustion cars in Europe does not please everyone. The Czech Republic's prime minister has now announced that he will vote against the ban on the sale of cars that run on fossil fuels. This could put the EU's timetable in jeopardy, as all 27 states would have to agree to the ban.
Two companies from Europe have set new records in electric mobility. The Swiss company Futuricum has proven that trucks can indeed cover long distances without having to be recharged in between. The company Zero Emission Services (ZES) from Rotterdam, on the other hand, is revolutionising inland navigation in the green heart of Holland.
The EU Commission has set itself high goals: In July this year, it announced its goal of ending the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines by 2035. That does not suit everyone. In Italy, there are now hopes for an exception for car manufacturers Ferrari and Lamborghini.
A new regulation for the sale of used cars could mean that they have to be scrapped. An EU directive is planned that will classify used cars with an exhaust emission class below Euro 5 as scrap in the future. This will make it increasingly difficult or impossible to sell them in poorer countries.
In addition to air pollution in our cities, noise pollution is also increasingly coming into focus. Austria, Switzerland and France are leading the way. In Austria's Außerfern/Tyrol, loud motorbikes were already banned last year on particularly popular routes in the Tannheimertal, Hahntennjoch and Lechtal valleys. Anyone emitting more than 95 decibels has to pay a 220 € fine.
