Stockholm to Ban Petrol and Diesel Cars from 2025

(Patria) - Stockholm has announced plans to become the first major capital city to ban petrol and diesel cars from its city centre, in an effort to reduce pollution and noise.

From 2025, twenty blocks of Stockholm's inner city area, encompassing the financial and main commercial districts, will be restricted to electric vehicle traffic only. A decision on expanding the zone will be made in early 2025.

Health Concerns

- Today, due to the air in Stockholm, babies have lung problems, and elderly people die prematurely. We must eliminate harmful exhaust fumes from petrol and diesel cars.

That is why we are introducing the most ambitious low-emission zone to date - said the deputy mayor for transport, Lars Stromgren.

Numerous cities have introduced or are introducing programmes to combat air pollution, but Stockholm is going further than most.

Paris, Athens and Madrid have only banned diesel cars, while London has a charging system that covers the most polluting combustion engines.

- Many cities have introduced low-emission zones where cars with high emissions can drive if they pay a fee.

Stockholm's model is more far-reaching. Petrol and diesel cars are banned, period. It is more 'ultra' than London's ultra-low emission zone.

Unhealthy Air

We have chosen an area where a large number of cyclists and pedestrians are exposed to unhealthy air on a daily basis.

It is also a part of the city that is home to forward-thinking companies that want to lead the transition to a more sustainable future - said Stromgren, as reported by Air Quality News.

Although the primary intention is to allow only fully electric cars to operate, larger vans with plug-in hybrid engines will also be able to drive in the city centre, with exceptions for emergency vehicles and police cars, as well as cars where the driver or passenger has a documented disability.

The Swedish Green Party is part of a coalition of left-wing and environmentally oriented parties that hold power in Stockholm's city administration. The Greens said they hope the low-emission zone will encourage the use of electric vehicles.

Representatives of the transport industry said the plan is too radical.

"Since 2010, we have reduced emissions by 34 percent. But the Green Party and their colleagues in the city of Stockholm are now in too much of a hurry," the Swedish Transport Confederation announced.