In Stuttgart, the city with the most cars per inhabitant in Germany, air pollution control is a constant source of controversy and a constant challenge. For 25 years, the city has been trying to comply with EU limits for clean air and has taken a number of measures to achieve this. But what has really helped and is the air in Stuttgart cleaner today?
The measures taken in the past range from moss walls, filter columns and fine dust stickers on the carriageway to fine dust alarms. However, despite all efforts, the introduction of driving bans for diesel vehicles could not be prevented, which led to further discussions and protests.
Today, according to the regional council and the Ministry of Transport, the air quality in Stuttgart is perfectly acceptable. The concentration of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air has fallen significantly in recent years and is now below the limit values.
In 2018, 17 filter columns were installed at Neckartor to filter particulate matter and nitrogen oxides from the air. According to the Ministry of Transport, the filter columns have contributed to an improvement in air quality, but the question remains as to whether such measures are sufficient in the long term and whether they are not merely combating symptoms instead of tackling the root of the problem. The pilot project with moss walls to reduce the concentration of particulate matter failed miserably as the moss largely dried out and was therefore unable to develop its filtering effect. Is Stuttgart relying on trial and error rather than a well thought-out and standardised concept when it comes to air pollution control?
The diesel driving bans and the low emission zone, which unlike other cities in Baden-Württemberg has not been cancelled in Stuttgart, are examples of the controversial debate about air quality in the city. While the Ministry of Transport argues that the concentrations of pollutants in Stuttgart are still higher than in other cities and that prematurely lifting the driving bans would risk the limit values being exceeded again, the Lord Mayor is calling for them to be abolished.
How will the situation in Stuttgart develop and can the city improve air quality in the long term? A uniform concept could certainly help, but it also requires a willingness to make fundamental changes to transport policy and people's behaviour. This is the only way to reduce air pollution in the long term and protect people's health.