While certain cities are notorious for pollution – most notably the Chinese metropolis Beijing – the smog in Paris has gotten so bad it’s put a damper on the French capital’s reputation as one of the world’s most romantic destinations. In an effort to improve air quality across the city, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has announced a plan to ban all diesel cars by 2020.
The action is rather unique in Europe, which has a number of other cities facing major pollution problems, but so far only the city government in Paris has announced plans for an outright ban.
One reason for the drastic step is because France has the highest number of diesel cars on the road, with 65 percent of new cards sold in the first six months of 2014 diesel-fueled. In addition, pollution in Paris is reported to rival Beijing at certain times during the day.
The diesel ban is only part of the mayor’s strategy to clean up the air in Paris. There is also a plan to cut back on private car use by creating semi-pedestrianized zones in which only local residents would be permitted to use their cars, along with emergency and delivery vehicles, buses, taxis and bicycles.
Also, trucks will be banned from crossing Paris unless they actually have business in the city and Paris will implement incentives to buy environmentally-friendly cars.
The proposed ban is opposed by some groups and the discussion focuses on the political implications facing the diesel prohibition.
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