Germany Takes First Step Towards Banning Diesel

31st May 2018

By LoveEarth WEC

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Hamburg is the first city in Europe to initiate complete diesel bans! The German Federal Court had recently given a landmark ruling to provide local authorities the power to implement diesel bans. Hamburg wasted no time and put these two bans into effect:
1. Prevents any car that does not meet Euro-6 emission standards from using the very busy Max-Brauer-Allee road, about 580 meters.
2. Prevents pre-euro VI trucks weighing 3.5 tonnes or more from entering about a 1.6km stretch of highway, Stresemannstrasse.
This ban will affect around 214,000 diesel cars, which is estimated to be more than two-thirds of the diesel vehicles registered in the city. The nitrogen dioxide levels in Hamburg regularly surpass the European Commission’s threshold of 40 micrograms per cubic meter. It is estimated that around 80 cities in Germany exceed NO2 levels regularly!
Why is this so important? These bans will prevent anything like the 2015 Volkwagon Scandal from ever happening again.

This is a huge step to improving air quality and combating climate change! Diesel has been found to be 10x more polluting. In various studies, diesel fumes have also been linked to cancer, confirmed by the World Health Organization. It is said that poor air quality throughout Europe contributes to over 400,000 premature deaths a year.
Obstacles: Environmental Official, Jen Kerstan, of Hamburg acknowledges that the ban will cause hardship for “innocent car owners but it is unavoidable because carmakers tricked us and the government has tried for many years to do nothing.” Jobs in the auto industry could be at stake if companies aren’t willing to innovate and transition into more sustainable systems.
The Future: Countries are increasingly announcing a total ban on diesel cars by 2040 and more power is being given to local authorities to tackle air pollution on a case by case basis.
For Example, Berlin has offered longer-term measures like a cash pot to extend public transport and build up cities’ electric vehicle fleets.
Norway has agreed to ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel-powered cars starting in 2025.
Dutch politicians have voted through a motion calling on the country to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars starting in 2025.

Read More: NewYork Times | Express UK News | ScienceX