In Sweden's capital Stockholm, there should have been an environmental zone against all diesel and petrol cars from 1 January. It has now stopped at the 11th hour.
Sweden has decided to abandon a planned environmental zone in Stockholm, which should have banned petrol and diesel cars as well as plug-in hybrids in the city center – for the benefit of the planet's climate .
The planned environmental zone, which was intended as a so-called class 3 zone, should have come into force at the turn of the year, but has now been stopped by the Stockholm County Council after a number of complaints.
The area of the proposed environmental zone covered approximately 180,000 square meters and included streets such as Kungsgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan, Hamngatan and Sveavägen.
According to the plans, only electric cars should have access to the area, which should improve air quality and reduce emissions from corvettes in the busy urban environment. However, the decision to cancel the zone has created debate between politicians and interest groups.
The moderates, who were among those who complained about the environmental zone, are satisfied with the decision.
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– It shows that we as complainants have done our part. It is an election ceiling that is pasted right into the budget. I am proud that together with Stockholm's business community we have won this important partial victory, says opposition councilor Dennis Wedin to Dagens Nyheter .
On the other hand, the Environmental Party De Gronne has expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that the environmental zone has been stopped.
– I am surprised by the county board's announcement. Now we need to analyze this to see what our next step will be.
– But for us it is extremely important that the environmental zone comes into place to improve air quality in an area where many people travel on foot, says traffic councilor Lars Strömgren.
Criticism of the zone has, among other things, been about its economic and practical consequences for both companies and private individuals in Stockholm. According to the County Administrative Board, the plan also lacked sufficient analysis of the potential effects and alternatives. It is still unclear whether the zone will be reconsidered with adjustments, or whether the proposal has been completely taken off the table.
The debate about environmental zones in Stockholm illustrates a wider discussion in Sweden about the balance between environmental considerations and practical considerations in everyday life.
