France: parliament votes against green zones
A majority of the French National Assembly has voted to abolish the green zones, or LEZs (low emission zones), which around 40 cities had introduced to improve air quality. Members of the Assembly criticised the ban on heavy and polluting vehicles as anti-social, arguing that low-income earners can't afford low-emission cars. The national press is incensed.
An irresponsible stance
La Croix sees a lack of common sense:
“The reality is that the fine dust particles and nitrogen oxides emitted by combustion cars are very harmful for those who live in cities. They are triggering factors for childhood asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. They cause tens of thousands of premature deaths per year. Reducing them is an international goal supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is therefore unreasonable to discontinue a measure that has proven its effectiveness in those French and European cities where it has been introduced.”
Playing the anti-social card as a last resort
The fact that the opponents of green zones are now stressing the negative social aspect is proof of a failed strategy, Libération argues:
“When it comes to delaying or even rejecting measures against pollution and climate change, the method is always the same. It involves several steps: first, the problem is denied. When the scientific consensus finally prevails, the proposed solutions are brushed off as counterproductive. Then when we realise that they actually work, as in the case of low emission zones, the social argument is trotted out. This argument is only used as a last resort, once the evidence of environmental damage can no longer be denied.”