Smog alert in northern Italy: driving bans for Milan and neighbouring provinces
High levels of particulate matter, poor air quality and tough measures: Milan and eight other provinces in northern Italy's Lombardy region are currently struggling with severe air pollution. In response to the alarming environmental situation, the authorities have adopted a series of restrictive measures. These affect not only citizens, but also motorists.
Level 1 anti-smog measures are now coming into force in nine of the region's twelve provinces. On weekdays (7.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.), a driving ban applies in municipalities with more than 30,000 inhabitants for vehicles with emission classes up to Euro 1 for petrol and up to Euro 4 for diesel. Other measures include a ban on open fires outdoors and restrictions on the use of certain types of wood-burning stoves. Particular attention is being paid to reducing emissions, which is why the Milanese have been advised to limit indoor temperatures to 19 degrees Celsius and to minimise time spent outdoors.
The situation is serious: according to a study by the private Swiss environmental company IQAir, the air quality in Milan was temporarily classified as the third worst in the world on Sunday - after Dhaka and Chengdu. These alarming values are confirmed by data from the environmental authority ARPA, which show that the set limits were significantly exceeded at the weekend.
The Po Valley, where Milan is located, traditionally suffers from smog in winter. This is due to the low air circulation, which is exacerbated by the geographical location of the region - surrounded by high mountain ranges - and the high density of traffic and heated residential buildings. The low wind activity and lack of precipitation also contribute to this problem.
But it is not just Lombardy that is affected: There is also dense, unhealthy fog over Bologna. The resulting poor visibility has already led to serious accidents in the region. A meteorologist from the regional environmental authority Arpae warned: "Don't go jogging" and reported "terrible air quality values".
In the hope of an imminent change in the weather with rain and snow, which could clean the air, people in Italy are looking to the future with excitement. The wind could blow away the concentrations of pollutants above the cities. In the long term, however, emissions must be urgently reduced in order to sustainably improve air quality.
The citizens of northern Italy, especially the inhabitants of Milan and the neighbouring provinces, are facing a major challenge. It is to be hoped that the measures taken will take effect, that the weather will change and contribute to an improvement in air quality. In the future, even stricter and permanent driving bans and environmental zones, as we know them from France, for example, could help.