Hanover low emission zone to be cancelled! What does this mean for air quality and the traffic turnaround?
From 22 February 2024, it will be official: the low emission zone in Hanover will be abolished. After 16 years of strict regulations for vehicles within the 4,300-hectare environmental zone between Sahlkamp, Süd-, West- and Messeschnellweg, you will no longer need a green sticker on your windscreen to drive into the city centre.
But what does that mean for air quality and the general traffic situation in the Lower Saxony state capital?
The decision to abolish the low emission zone was made because the air quality in Hanover has improved significantly. Since 2020, nitrogen dioxide levels at all measuring stations have been below the EU limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter. The Hildesheim State Trade Inspection Office even predicts that from 2024 the limit value can be met even on the most heavily polluted road without an environmental zone, even in the most unfavorable traffic and weather conditions.
This is a clear sign that the air pollution control measures in Hanover are taking effect. The low emission zone was introduced in 2008 to regulate vehicle emissions and thus improve air quality. Since then, the air quality in Hanover has continuously improved, meaning that the low emission zone could be lifted again.
But does the abolition of the low emission zone mean that Hanover is giving up efforts to improve air quality? Quite the opposite. The city has announced that it continues to pursue the goal of improving air quality and increasing the quality of stay and quality of life in the city. The focus is now on the transport transition, which includes a reduction in car traffic in favor of local public transport as well as cycling and pedestrian traffic.
The abolition of the environmental zone is therefore not a step backwards, but a step in the right direction. It shows that it is possible to improve air quality in large cities through targeted measures and at the same time increase people's quality of life.
However, the question remains as to whether the abolition of the low emission zone is coming too soon. While nitrogen dioxide levels are below the limit, the removal of the low emission zone could lead to more vehicles with high emissions entering the city and air quality to deteriorate again.
It remains to be seen whether the traffic turnaround and other measures will be enough to keep the air quality in Hanover at a high level even without an environmental zone. However, one thing is certain: the city of Hanover is determined to continue working to improve air quality and offer its citizens a high quality of life.