Stockholm gets ready for zero emissions

The Swedish capital will soon have its first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ), only allowing access in a central area to those vehicles that meet strict electrification and emission standards.

On New Year’s Eve this year, Stockholm will put in place it’s Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ). This will cover a small area of the city centre, closing the streets to vehicles except for those meeting specific electrification and emissions standards. According to the city of Stockholm, the purpose of the ZEZ is “to improve air quality and bring the associated health benefits of this, make a safer and more pleasant street environment, add more space for life and activities, reduce noise, bring about faster electrification and make a more attractive inner city” [1]

Stockholm will see the next step in the evolution towards a clean and healthy city by putting in place a ZEZ to control traffic and reduce the burden from vehicle emissions, which are a major source of urban pollution globally, and have one of the most significant effects on urban residents’ health. According to the new rules, a central area of Stockholm will now only be permissible to cars, light trucks and light buses that are fully electric, CNG (gas) with a Euro 6 emission standard or fuel cell electric [1]. The same classes will be permitted for heavy trucks and buses, with the inclusion of plug-in hybrids with a Euro 6 emission standard [1]. Several exemptions apply, such as for emergency vehicles and vehicles of those with disabilities [1]. There will also be an analysis undertaken next year to see if the ZEZ should be further expanded [1].

Restriction of vehicle pollution in urban centres has a number of benefits, one of the largest being reduction in air pollutants, but also other forms of pollution such as noise pollution, and other factors that impact on residents’ wellbeing. Cities that are more pedestrian-friendly and less car-friendly can have a fairer distribution of public space, including for public goods such as green spaces, more healthy and sustainable local economies, including for local enterprises and shops, and better safety for both pedestrians and motorists. Sustainable urban mobility is an ambition under a number of national (Swedish) and EU-wide, policies and plans, such as the Ambient Air Quality Directive and Trans-European Transport Network.

They are not without controversy though. Earlier this year, vocal opposition was seen to the changes and expansion of London’s low emission zone and ultra-low emission zone, under the leadership of Sadiq Khan. The city saw protests in early 2024 against expansion of the ULEZ, with much of the protests being focused at Khan himself [2]. Despite this though, the ULEZ has been implemented, and the effects have been immediate; London has seen a lowering of NOx emissions from vans of 7% below the level expected if the emissions zone remained unchanged, a 13% drop for NOx from cars, and an estimated staggering 22% drop in PM_2.5 from cars in outer London [3]. This means that London is seeing a faster reduction in air pollution levels than the rest of the country, and now coming into line with the rest of the country [3]. Khan himself has said “the ULEZ is working even better than expected”. This comes at a time when longer terms reports are also showing positive health and social effects due to the changes put in place in London. A report released in August this year has shown that since the introduction of a low emissions zone in 2008, there has been a “meaningful improvement” in school test scores in London “similar to reducing class size by 10 students or paying teachers large financial bonuses” [3]. This is among the many benefits of emissions zone regulation in urban areas, and a clear demonstration of the power of limiting air pollution and combustion vehicle dominance in urban centres.

While Stockholm is starting from a strong base of air quality, setting up a zero-emissions zone will mean continued improvement of health and wellbeing across multiple factors of urban health. It is a change that we will hopefully see much more of in the coming years.

References:
[1] Stockholms Stad. Miljözon klass 3. Stockholms Stad. 2024.
[2] Kelly, J. et al. Demonstration held in central London to protest against Ulez expansion. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2024
[3]Topham, G. Ulez expansion led to significant drop in air pollutants in London, report finds. The Guardian. 2024

The Zero Emission Zone will cover nine streets in the city centre. If it turns out well the city will consider expansion.