Denmark’s municipalities will soon have the option to prohibit polluting vehicles in designated areas, with plans already underway in several cities. Last week, a political majority approved legislation allowing municipalities to establish zero-emission zones starting in early 2025. Under the new legislation, municipal councils can choose between two types of zero-emission zones: one that applies to passenger traffic and another that includes all traffic, including freight transport.
Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke called the introduction of zero-emission zones a natural progression in reducing harmful urban air pollution and modernizing transport systems. “This law enables all municipalities to create zones where fossil-fuel vehicles are banned, helping to lower local air pollution and ensure cleaner air,” Heunicke said in a press statement.
Zero-emission zones are intended to be smaller, confined urban areas where distances from the perimeter to the center are short. This design makes it feasible in many cases to park outside the zone, walk the final stretch to a destination within the zone, or switch to public transport or a bicycle.
A key condition for establishing a zero-emission zone is that it must not create disproportionate increases in traffic from detours. Also, zones cannot include the strategic road network, consisting of the main routes connecting the country.
Municipalities have long sought to introduce zero-emission zones to reduce local air pollution. Several municipalities, including Copenhagen and Aarhus, are already developing plans for potential zones. However, the law is not limited to large cities. All municipalities in Denmark will now have the authority to implement a zero-emission zone in a designated area.
Source: Denmark Ministry