The French National Assembly has voted to scrap the country’s low emission zones — known as Zones à faibles émissions (ZFEs) – La Chaîne parlementaire reported on 28 May.
Deputies confirmed on 28 May in the hemicycle of the French National Assembly the abolition of ZFEs as part of the first reading review of the Economic Simplification bill. The vote was 98 in favour, 51 against.
ZFEs ban or restrict entry to major cities for polluting vehicles. As of last year, there were 11 active ZFEs in France: In Greater Paris, Rouen, Reims, Strasbourg, Greater Lyon, Grenoble, Saint-Étienne, Toulouse, Montpellier, Aix-Marseille, and Nice.
The policy was initiated in 2019 and expanded by the 2021 Climate and Resilience Act to improve air quality.
A major change planned for 1 January, in accordance with Article 119 of the 2019 Mobility Orientation Law, would have extended ZFEs to all French communes with a population of 150,000, creating 33 new ZFEs across the country.
Derogation measures had been introduced for conurbations to demonstrate that air quality complied with World Health Organization standards. However, opponents argue that the measure was socially unfair, penalising low-income households.
Despite the government proposing a compromise by limiting ZFEs to Paris and Lyon while leaving other cities of over 150,000 residents to decide individually, MPs have rejected the offer and stuck to the committee’s decision of full repeal.
The abolition is not yet final, however, and the bill must now complete the full legislative process, which includes validation during further readings.
One UK coach operator says that while the decision is largely an internal issue for France, it undermines investment in cleaner fleets.
Tim Southby, owner Heathside Travel, warns: “It’s a big step backwards. I would imagine that most of us that undertake European travel have invested heavily in cleaner vehicles. By dropping the ZFE, local operators with Euro IV or Euro V vehicles could flood the area, reducing parking availability.”
According to Santé publique France, air pollution is responsible for around 40,000 deaths per year.
