It's a decision that has caused quite a stir, even more than pollution itself! On Wednesday, May 28, the deputies voted to remove ZFEs (low emission zones) across France, brushing aside years of implementation, support, and changes in habits. In Strasbourg, this announcement hit like a real jolt. Three years after launching the program, green elected officials are speaking out, denouncing a sudden and baffling halt. Jeanne Barseghian, the EELV mayor of the Alsatian capital, is even calling it a "serious setback for the health of the French people." The atmosphere is tense.
And yet, the numbers tell a different story. Since 2022, Strasbourg’s ZFE has shown encouraging results: a drop of 7,000 registered vehicles in the metropolis, a decrease in nitrogen dioxide levels, and a budget of over 10 million euros injected to help households switch vehicles or explore other mobility solutions. Efforts are being made.
that just started to bear fruit, even if, as the urban planning agency Adeus reminds us, it’s still a bit early to declare victory on the health front.A Heavy Blow to Strasbourg’s Ecological Policy
So why stop this positive momentum? This is exactly what local elected officials and ecological advocates like Alsace Nature are denouncing. They don’t understand this decision, which is deemed "irresponsible" while pollution from fine particles continues to claim over 4,000 lives each year in the Grand Est. Especially since the Eurometropolis seemed to be on the right track with a 35% reduction in nitrogen dioxide over five years.
Even though the long-term benefits of the Low Emission Zone (ZFE) are still difficult to pinpoint, the consensus seemed clear in Strasbourg: we’ve got something that works. But with this vote in Paris, the entire local structure is shaking. And now? Elected officials are calling for us not to...
relax efforts and stay the course, ZFE or no ZFE. Because breathing clean air shouldn't be an option.
Source : BFM Alsace
