The government has decided. Special zones will be created in larger cities
The government adopted a bill that requires the creation of more than 100,000 jobs in each city. residents of the Clean Transport Zone if nitrogen dioxide standards are exceeded.
The government adopted a draft law under which cities with a population of over 100,000 inhabitants, if the permissible nitrogen dioxide emission standards are exceeded, it will be necessary to create Clean Transport Zones. This means that owners of older cars will not be able to enter the center – informs Wyborcza.
The introduction of the proposed solutions will also constitute the implementation of reforms related to the National Reconstruction Plan (KPO) adopted by the Council of Ministers in April 2021.
– we read in the justification for the project.
Clean Transport Zones in Poland
Initially, SCT will be established in four cities: Warsaw, Kraków, Katowice and Wrocław. Why in them? Because already in 2022, the average annual permissible NO level was exceeded there2. However, this does not mean that the list ends there. Clean Transport Zones will have to be created in every large city (over 100,000 inhabitants) if nitrogen dioxide standards are exceeded.
For now, SCT only operates in Warsaw. From July 1, petrol cars older than 27 years and diesel cars older than 19 years cannot enter the center. In the coming years, the regulations will become more and more stringent. A Clean Transport Zone was also supposed to be created in Krakow, but the councilor’s resolution was appealed by the Voivode of Lesser Poland and the court agreed with his arguments.
Smog and nitrogen dioxide have a very negative impact on health. It is estimated that they cause more frequent heart attacks, strokes, pulmonary embolism and atrial fibrillation.
