The decision on the new environmental zone was hammered out on Monday in the Stockholm City Council. This after the environmental zone was reviewed by the European Commission, which gave the green light in April.
From 31 December 2024, there is therefore a ban on petrol and diesel cars within an area in the central parts of Stockholm.
The idea is that the environmental zone should be a first step towards making Stockholm’s inner city completely emission-free by 2030 at the latest.
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180,000 square meters will be closed
The ban will apply in an area of 20 blocks and 180,000 square meters between Kungsgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan, Hamngatan and Sveavägen.
In this area, no cars with petrol or diesel engines will be allowed. This also applies to plug-in hybrids that run on electricity at the time.
Exceptions are, however, given to, among other things, medical transport, rescue services, and police and emergency vehicles. Motorcycles and mopeds will also be allowed in the area.
– We are proud to lead the changeover to a future that is built for people, rather than fossil fuels, says the City of Stockholm’s traffic council Lars Strömgren (MP) in a press release.
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The moderates must bring down the environmental zone
According to the moderate opposition city council Dennis Wedin the decision is not properly substantiated and they therefore plan to appeal it to the County Administrative Board, reports SVT.
According to Dennis Wedin, for example, it has not been presented why the particular area in question is particularly environmentally sensitive. According to Dennis Wedin, there has also not been a dialogue with the business owners in the surrounding area.
Several trade associations, including Sweden’s Bussföreta and Svensk Handel, have also questioned the plans for the environmental zone, reports The bus magazine. The industry organizations claim, however, that they have received a cold-hearted and indifferent treatment from traffic councilor Lars Strömgren.
Dennis Wedin also questions whether there are enough charging posts in the area, and sees the risk that the traffic that will not be welcome in the zone will instead be diverted to residential areas.
Lars Strömgren rather believes that the environmental zone will create ripples on the water, and lead to a greater degree of electric cars throughout the city. He emphasizes this in an interview with SVT.
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