What is it about?
A low emission zone (LEZ) is a mechanism for reducing the negative impact of traffic pollution on an urban environment, where exhaust emissions are strictly regulated to meet certain environmental criteria. Such solutions increasing the sustainability of the urban environment are gaining popularity, especially in Western European agglomerations, where there are currently more than 300 zones, mainly in Italy and Germany. Thus far, there are no LEZs in Eastern and Central European countries, but Warsaw authorities plan to launch an LEZ in 2024. According to the ongoing project, the zone is to be implemented gradually, in five stages between 2024 and 2032, and the emission criteria will be tightened accordingly. The gradually reduced emissions of NOX and PM were utilized as the input dataset in the regional CALPUFF model predictions to calculate the concentrations of these main traffic-induced pollutants within the zone. The direct effect is a reduction in air pollution in the urban center, which is the area most exposed to pollution risk due to heavy traffic. Computer simulations reveal that implementation of the zone inWarsaw will result in a significant reduction in NOX concentrations within the LEZ, such that its mean concentration in the zone becomes comparable to the rest of the conurbation. However, it will bring only a slight reduction in PM2.5 concentrations. This results from the long-standing dominance of coal combustion in the Polish economy. This also applies to the urban municipal sector, being clearly predominant over the road traffic contribution. Balance can be achieved once the de-carbonization process has been completed.
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Why is it important?
The main objective of the zone introduction is to reduce damage to the environment and related risks to residents’ health [28–30] since heavy traffic pollutants (NO2 and PM) are primarily responsible for environmental destruction in the central districts. The main objective is to improve the health of residents by reducing these concentrations. Prospectively, the implementation of an LEZ will create a more sustainable, resident-friendly environment and also curb the recently observed trend of depopulation of city centers. In the long term, it also leads to an improvement in the quality of the environment throughout the conurbation and a reduction in the related social and economic costs of its degradation; thus, it increases the sustainability of future city development.
Perspectives
To have a real impact on lowering pollution levels in cities, zero- and low-emission cars have to replace conventional cars at a noticeable proportion in order to create an effect of scale [30]. A great deal of responsibility in this regard rests with local governments, which are the only entities able to demarcate areas and create exemptions for some vehicles. In other words, they can implement a zone that meets real needs, e.g., by also allowing admission to it by low-emission vehicles, like plug-in hybrids and classic hybrids. Low emission zones would then have a better chance of being created and accepted by the local community and effectively fighting smog.
Piotr Holnicki
Systems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A Projection of Environmental Impact of a Low Emission Zone Planned in Warsaw, Poland, Sustainability, November 2023, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/su152316260.
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