On 11 January 2024, the District Administrative Court in Krakow, Poland, stopped the city's planned low emission zone for the time being. The project, known as the Clean Transport Zone (SCT), was intended to designate a part of the city where only cars with certain Euro standards would be allowed to enter. However, despite the good intentions of the city council, the court declared the project invalid.
In order to cope with road traffic - in view of the expected increase during the upcoming summer holidays - the country has decided to impose driving bans on trucks over 16 tonnes again this year. From Friday to Sunday, as well as on public holidays, freight traffic will only be able to continue undisturbed during certain time windows.
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.
In Poland, climatic health resorts can charge their guests an extra fee -- because of the supposedly good air. Unfortunately, the air in Poland's recreational and ski resorts is often much worse than elsewhere. In the spa town of Szczyrk in Silesia, they are now not allowed to charge at all.
Our eastern neighbours are at the forefront when it comes to bad air. A comparison with another European country gives an idea of the full extent.
Our neighbouring country Poland no longer wants to be a buyer for motor vehicles that are discarded in Germany.
We are pleased to announce that at the beginning of this year we were able to enter into cooperation with the largest Polish association of the road transport industry.
