Protests stop low emission zone: Stockholm escapes ban on internal combustion vehicles
After fierce opposition, there will be no low emission zone with a ban on internal combustion vehicles in Stockholm's old town. Instead, parking spaces are to disappear, traffic is to be reduced overall and the focus is to be on reclaiming walking and cycling.
The Swedish capital Stockholm has shelved plans to introduce a strict environmental zone, known as Environmental Zone 3, in the historic old town Gamla Stan. This has now been announced by Stockholm's red-green government in response to strong protests from the bus industry, catering businesses and shop owners in the old town.
The planned Low Emission Zone 3 would have meant a driving ban for all vehicles that are not electric or run on gas and meet the strict Euro 6 emission requirements. The impact would have been felt especially by tourist buses, which would no longer have been allowed to enter the area. The Swedish bus companies, which already run 85% without fossil fuels - mainly biodiesel - would have had to prepare themselves for a major challenge. This would also have hurt the tourism industry in the capital as a whole.
Stockholm already has an environmental zone that does not affect passenger cars, but imposes very strict rules on buses and trucks. Vehicles must have Euro standard 6 and may also not be older than 8 years. Accordingly, the tourism industry has already adapted to the latest technology and low-emission vehicles. A further tightening would be a hard blow for them.
In Gamla Stan, a so-called "urban low emission zone" is now to be set up instead of the strict low emission zone 3. This is a new concept that many welcome with joy. Because instead of even stricter driving bans, hundreds of parking spaces in the old town are to disappear and be replaced by space for places to stay and green areas. The focus is to be on pedestrians and cyclists, human encounters and city life. The speed limit is to be reduced on many streets.
This is a concept that makes more sense for Gamla Stan anyway than a mere ban on combustion cars. Through the urban environmental zone, the focus can be placed on a holistic, decelerated cityscape, which does justice to the historic city centre.
Despite the success, a certain uncertainty remains for the opponents of Low Emission Zone 3. For so far the decision has only been made for the district of Gamla Stan. What will happen to other parts of Stockholm's city centre is unclear. It remains exciting to see what solutions the city of Stockholm will find to master the balancing act between climate protection and the health of citizens as well as the needs of residents, business people and tourists.