Mandating lower tailpipe emissions throughout European cities
Paris Curbs GHG Emissions from Automobiles with Crit'Air
Crit'Air in Paris is one of the largest pioneering programs in a major world city to mandate compliance with emission standards for vehicles (in this case, European emissions standards). After successful implementation in Paris, Crit'Air policies now cover around 28 permanent zones in France, and also weather-dependent zones in France.
Drivers on the streets of Paris are mandated to put color-coded stickers on the windshields of their vehicles. This enables easy identification by the Paris police of those vehicles with the highest levels of GHG emissions, and vehicles deemed very polluting in the Crit'Air system are banned from the streets of Paris.
Prior to the sticker system, lawmakers in Paris had introduced the rather impractical system that saw vehicles with odd or even-numbered plates banned from Paris roads on alternate days (an idea that didn't last long), and other dubious ideas to curb tailpipe pollution in Paris that failed to take off.
After the wrinkles in the Crit'Air program in Paris were ironed out, the program became widely adopted by cities throughout France. Another pioneering low-emissions zone in Europe is in London. Based on the successes of Crit'Air and London's C-charge, low-emissions zones have taken off all over Europe (and the rest of the world).
Other European Low-Emissions Zone Programs
The London congestion charge (C-Charge), and Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) in London, like Crit'Air in France, is designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution from inefficient fossil fuel cars; and also designed to get lower-emitting, more fuel-efficient vehicles (like electric vehicles, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids) on the road in place of their dirtier-fueled counterparts.
Another trend-setting European city as far as reducing tailpipe pollution is Oslo, Norway. Oslo is in the midst of putting a citywide ban on fossil-fuel cars. A smaller municipality that has set a sustainable example by greatly reducing vehicles on its roads is the city district of Vauban in Freiburg, Germany. Vauban has effectively reduced the number of cars on its roads dramatically.
Even Manhattan, NYC, is mandating a congestion charge similar to the one in London. Other European cities like Copenhagen, Paris, Brussels, and Madrid, are implementing limitations on fossil-fueled cars on their roads; and instead encouraging alternative forms of transit.
How does the Crit’Air system work?
Vehicles driven in the regions of France Crit'Air covers, as in the city of Paris, must purchase color-coded stickers as per Crit'Air guidelines.
There are six Crit'Air sticker colors, based on: the type of vehicle, the date of the vehicle's manufacturing/ registration, the vehicle's energy efficiency rating by EU emissions standards, and the level of GHG emissions for the vehicle. Green is the cleanest category, and grey the worst. Green is for electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen cars.
Low emission cars also get special access to certain parts of the city that more polluting cars don't have. Orange stickers designate levels of lower-emission (Euro 4) vehicles; yellow stickers represent still fossil fuel-based, but low emitting, fuel-efficient (Euro 5 & 6) vehicles; and hybrid vehicles usually get at least a purple sticker.
Under the Crit’Air system, vehicles registered before 1997, and trucks and buses registered before 2001, automatically get a grey sticker. These vehicles are banned from the streets in Paris. France has around 32 million vehicles on its streets, and approximately 6% of cars in Paris fall into this grey Crit'Air category. The next category is for vehicles registered between 2001 and 2005 and these account for 14% of cars in Paris. The authorities in Paris are extending the ban to these vehicles as well. Because Crit'Air works to encourage newer, more efficient vehicles, some have criticized the Crit’Air system, saying that it targets those who are unable to afford newer vehicles.
The vehicles that are preferred by the Crit'Air system in Paris are those conforming to the Euro 5 emission standards, and Euro 6 emissions standards, as well as all-electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles. EVs all get a green sticker, while Euro 5 & 6/ hybrid vehicles usually get at least yellow or purple stickers.
Also preferred by the Crit'Air system are a relatively small number of vehicles that are under the category of antique cars and collectible vehicles. Approximately 600,000 vehicles per day use the Paris road network. Those found without stickers will get a hefty fine. Cars without Crit'Air stickers in Paris are fined around €68, to as much as double that.
The Crit'Air sticker system has been implemented in many cities throughout France, at least temporarily. Paris, however, is making their Crit'Air system permanent. In addition, the authorities in Paris are introducing other measures to reduce traffic. As part of the effort in Paris to reduce GHG emissions, to reduce other pollution from vehicles in the city, and help in the fight against global warming; some roads in Paris are closed to traffic at times, while other areas of Paris are designated ‘pedestrian only’ zones.
France's efforts in reducing GHGs with legislative mandates to curb auto emissions are only part of France's sustainability ambitions. Another legislative advancement that France has made (in 2016) is to tackle the problem of food waste; by mandating that supermarkets donate unsold food items to charity.
Please read:
greencitytimes.blogspot.com/france-implements-policy-to-tackle-food-waste
Please also see:
Green city: London (and London's Congestion Charge)
GCT Featured Articles
Oslo, Norway – Eco-Capital
Oslo: Net Zero Future | Oslo has fleets of clean mass public transit - trams, electric buses and ferries - powered...
Read PostRegenerative Agriculture
Regenerative agriculture creates carbon sinks; turning farms into healthy ecosystems that sequester carbon with plentiful...
Read PostSustainable City – CHICAGO
Chicago might not be widely known as a green city, however, the city has a vast network of sustainable mass public transit...
Read PostVauban and the Plus-Energy Sun Ship
Vauban is an exemplary sustainable town and a zero-emission district. Most energy for buildings is from rooftop solar...
Read PostClimate Solution – Sustainable Agriculture
Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture | Sustainable ag. turns farms into thriving biodiverse lands that produce...
Read PostAustin, Texas – A Sustainable City
Eco-friendly Capital | Austin is emerging as a leader in renewable energy, community solar, and LEED building efficiency...
Read Post12+ Ways You Can Help the Environment
Lower your carbon footprint, save energy, and help the environment. Here are 12+ actions for sustainable individuals:...
Read Post10 Ways to Reduce Food Waste
by Jane Marsh | Significant amounts of food waste originate from cities. Urbanites can use food waste reduction methods...
Read PostModern Sustainable Waste Management Technologies
5 Ways for SMART Cities to Implement Sustainable Waste Management | by Jane Marsh | Cities are implementing zero-waste...
Read Post5 Categories of Change in Climate
Climate change is adversely affecting all parts of the earth. There have been dramatic increases in greenhouse gas emissions...
Read Post10 IoT and Sustainability Technologies for Smart Cities
Technologies Benefit Sustainable Smart Cities | by Jane Marsh | As the conversation around greenhouse gas emissions...
Read PostProfiles in Sustainable Cities – San Diego, California
Sustainable cities, like San Diego, have eco-city designs that prioritize consideration of social, economic, and environmental...
Read PostOffshore Wind Farms in the United States | Block Island Leads the Way
First of many US offshore wind farms | The United States' 1st operational offshore wind farm is the Block Island...
Read PostClean Energy Jobs are UP, and RE cost is down
Clean Energy JOBS | The future of employment in the energy sector is in clean energy, energy efficiency, and renewable...
Read PostUsing Technology to Provide Clean Water to Cities
How Technology Can Help Cities Avoid Another Flint Water Crisis | Article by Jane Marsh | The green movement is influencing...
Read PostHow Safe & Clean is Nuclear ☢️ Energy?
When looking at climate solutions for clean energy generation, it is prudent to look at all clean energy sources. Nuclear...
Read PostKamuthi Solar Project, Bhadla Solar Park; and the largest solar PV farms in India, China, and other countries
Featuring over 2.5 million individual solar PV modules, and on 2,500 acres, the Kamuthi Solar Power Project supplies...
Read PostMicrogrids spread across Africa
Developing Microgrids | As African nations push for rural electrification, many look to microgrids as a sustainable...
Read PostFuture Generations of Batteries
Next generation li-ion batteries | Next-gen lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries can charge quickly, are rechargeable,...
Read PostClean Hydrogen Power
Hydrogen (H2) and the Clean Energy Transition | Hydrogen created with clean energy is one of the most promising...
Read PostNuclear – necessary energy
Both nuclear and renewable energy are needed in the global energy mix to help fight climate change. In order to cut...
Read PostCOP21 – good news for the planet
NDCs and Net Zero Pledges | At COP21, commonly referred to as the Paris Climate Accord, nations sent representatives...
Read PostPlan for the Expansion of Smart Meter Infrastructure
Modern SMART Meters | Many buildings in America today still rely on inefficient energy infrastructure, such as older...
Read PostRecycling – how we are doing as a global community; waste-to-energy
Effective waste management strategies for cities include citywide recycling programs, circular economy strategies, as...
Read PostPermanent ban on new coal mines and other sustainability priorities
Strategies for mitigating climate change | What are the best strategies for mitigating global warming? How is the...
Read Post10 Sustainable Technologies Improving Air Quality in Cities
GREEN Tech for Healthy Air | Article by Jane Marsh | Cities are the heart of every global region. They are headquarters...
Read PostShortfall in International GHG Reduction Pledges
Is the World Going to Meet its Climate Targets? There is a substantial shortfall between GHG emission reduction pledges...
Read PostThe Global Fight Against Climate Change; NDCs and Net Zero Targets Worldwide
Nationally Determined Contributions | As part of the ongoing global battle against climate change, almost 200 countries...
Read PostBreakthroughs in Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Thermal Technology
Solar - the most abundant renewable energy on the planet | Recently there have been dramatic breakthroughs in solar...
Read PostRenewable Energy – Breakthroughs in Wind Energy
Onshore Wind Farms - Cheap and Clean Energy | Onshore wind farms now provide the least expensive form of energy, renewable...
Read PostEconomy vs. the Environment
Economic growth does not have to come at the expense of the environment. Sustainable technologies (such as renewable...
Read PostDesalination – Clean Water for a Thirsty World
The two desalination plants featured below; one in Carlsbad (San Diego county, California - featured photo), and one...
Read Post10 Countries Promoting the use of Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Why Is There A Need For EVs Globally? In its World Energy Outlook, the International Energy Agency identifies pathways...
Read PostSmart City Energy Infrastructure
Updating Infrastructure for Developing Renewable Energy in Cities | People-centered smart cities are cropping up worldwide....
Read PostEVs and the Future of Urban Transit
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure | What will be done to develop electric vehicle infrastructure? With cars that...
Read PostThe Role of E-mobility Trends in Decarbonizing Transport
Decarbonizing the Transportation Sector with E-mobility | It's no secret that transportation is a major source of...
Read PostPutting a Price on Carbon
Carbon Markets | Carbon cap and trade systems are regulatory policies in which countries, provinces, states, and even...
Read PostReforestation
Deforestation and solutions; including reforestation | Deforestation of our planet, for centuries, has led to issues...
Read PostThe UNFCCC
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – Conference of the Parties | World leaders, dignitaries,...
Read PostCarbon tax – a levy on pollution whose time has come
Defining effective carbon taxes | A carbon tax is a levy in countries and regions on: fossil fuel power plants, oil...
Read PostImproving energy efficiency
Energy Efficiency Foundations for Green Building: Energy Star, LED and CFL Lights, LEED technologies When it comes to...
Read PostDecoupling and Divestment to Reach Sustainability
Economic Growth Without Environmental Impact Decoupling in eco-environmental terms can be defined as economic growth...
Read PostISEGS – A Shining Example of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
Ivanpah Solar Electrical Generating System (ISEGS) Ivanpah Solar Electrical Generating System (ISEGS) is a 392 MW solar concentrated...
Read PostCar-sharing and Ride-hailing
Sustainable Commuting | Many ride-sharing fleets are converting to electric cars. Car-sharing (a.k.a. ride-sharing)...
Read PostCalifornia – Current Progress of a Climate Champion
Learning From California's Struggle to Balance Decarbonization With Energy Resilience | Since California passed the...
Read PostA Close Look at San Diego’s HERO Program
San Diego, Green Buildings, HERO Program | The importance of green energy for use in homes and businesses is becoming...
Read Post
Please let us here at Green City Times know what you think in a comment; and we’ll try and answer any questions as well.
Please also visit our other blog at https://greencitytimes.blogspot.com
[Dan Braff is the founder of GCT –
Daniel Braff
about.me/gctimes]