Tuesday 14 April 2015

Tackling air pollution in cities: towards improvement of air quality or exclusion of 70 % of Poles from road traffic in city centres?

EU , politics , pollution No comments :

The proposal of new legislation, regulating air pollution levels ( so called anti-smog act) prepared by the currently ruling coalition ( Platforma Obywatelska and PSL), specifies the requirements that should be fulfilled by cars to be allowed to enter inside main Polish agglomerations ( Euro IV criteria, in force since 2005). What, from the principle, is a good idea, might complicate the road traffic on Polish roads.

We have taken a look at the directives of the European Union, based upon Polish law would be written (to be precise, EC Regulation 582/2011 ). Mentioned Euro IV criteria have been amended by Euro V and Euro VI regulations. Euro IV heavy duty emissions regulations have applied to new vehicles registered in the State since 1/10/2006 and were replaced by Euro V regulations which have applied to new vehicles registered since 1/10/2009. The major difference between the Euro IV and Euro V is the reduction in the emission limits for nitrogen oxides from 3.5 to 2.0 g/kWh.

The criteria (there are emission limits for each category of pollutant emissions and for the different types of vehicle; the criteria listed below are the maximum values for the passenger car):

Emissions from diesel vehicles:

• carbon monoxide: 500 mg/km;

• particulates: 5 mg/km (80 % reduction of emissions in comparison to the Euro 4 standard);

• nitrogen oxides (NOx): 180 mg/km (20 % reduction of emissions in comparison to the Euro 4 standard);

• combined emissions of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides: 230 mg/km.

Emissions from petrol vehicles or those running on natural gas or LPG:

• carbon monoxide: 1 000 mg/km;

• non-methane hydrocarbons: 68 mg/km;

• total hydrocarbons: 100 mg/km;

• nitrogen oxides (NOx): 60 mg/km (25 % reduction of emissions in comparison to the Euro 4 standard);

• particulates (solely for lean burn direct-injection petrol vehicles): 5 mg/km (introduction of a limit that did not exist for the Euro 4 standard).

In the case of vans and other light commercial vehicles intended for goods transport, the Regulation includes three categories of emission limits, depending on the reference mass of the vehicle: under 1 305 kg, between 1 305 kg and 1 760 kg, and over 1 760 kg. The limits that apply to the last of the three categories also apply to goods transport vehicles (category N2).

Based on the recent study (read: Leftlane) only 29% of Polish cars are younger than 10 years. Therefore, citing the portal Leftlane, who uses a report published by Eurostat as a refernce, the Poles have as much as 71% of cars older than 10 years and not fulfilling Euro IV and Euro V criteria. This means that the introduction of the anti-smog act in its proposed form may mean limiting the freedom of movement for about 70 percent of vehicles registered in Poland.

The project assumes that during a technical checkup of the vehicle, entitled diagnostician should state the opinion regarding the emission levels of the car. If the examination is successful ( our pollution levels are within the maximum limits), the car will be provided with a sticker to be put on the window which will allow the driver to enter into zones of restricted pollution limits.

Members of parliament explain that the law is written to combat the growing smog, which is formed in many Polish cities. As a reference point, Polish MPs are looking at similar solutions, which are valid for several years in Western Europe. For example, in Paris, it is prohibited to drive a car, which is older than 18 years.

According to many scientific researches, Polish air is one of the most contaminated in Europe. This is largely due to industrial activities, but the cars are also an important factor. As experts explain, cars produced approx. 30 percent of pollution in the country’s capital. The highest pollution levels are in the center of cities, where the traffic is the least liquid and a large part of the cars are being stuck in traffic jams.

Older models of cars are the biggest emitters of polluting substances. Mechanics suggest that these produced in 1992 emit as much as 61 times more pollution than cars now coming off the mounting tape.

As portal Onet.pl reports, many pro-ecological organizations are actively supporting proposed anti-smog act. Dariusz Kraszewski, from the association Green Mazowsze, explains that these restrictions would apply primarily to diesel cars that are as old as twenty years old. These cars emit a lot of solid particles that are dangerous to our health.

Dariusz Kraszewski argues that there is a need to fight smog, not only because of the penalties that may be imposed on Poland by the European Union. It is also about reducing the costs to be borne by the weakest and poorest inhabitants, as for the costs associated with the treatment of respiratory diseases. Approximately 30,000 people die prematurely each year because of breathing polluted air. That is a ten times more than victims who die in car accidents.

If we were to believe the statistics, stating that the average age of the car in Poland is 17 years old, many of Polish drivers may have a problem. In Berlin, which often is being served as an example of efficient operation of limited emission zones, drivers can count on a special "buffer" parking. The parkings are located next to the conventions of the main access roads to the capital. Each of these places is well connected to the city center by urban rail network and buses. In most cities in Poland, such comfort is many years beyond reach and it is much more distant than the implementation of upcoming legislation.