Authorities in Rome have dropped plans to tighten driving restrictions, despite problems with air pollution.
Some residents have welcomed the decision, but environmental campaigners are unhappy and argue the Italian capital's transport network must become greener.
Our correspondent Giles Gibson reports.
#italy #climatechange #green #evs #rome #pollution
Some residents have welcomed the decision, but environmental campaigners are unhappy and argue the Italian capital's transport network must become greener.
Our correspondent Giles Gibson reports.
#italy #climatechange #green #evs #rome #pollution
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NewsTranscript
00:00Visitors to Rome spend most of their time taking in the city's stunning architecture.
00:05But if you're a local driving around the historic center, you're on the lookout for just three letters, ZTL.
00:12La zona traffico limitato, or limited traffic zone, covers much of the historic center of the Italian capital.
00:20But there are some loopholes.
00:22The key issue is that a lot of people live there.
00:25And so even if, of course, it's forbidden to enter for people living outside,
00:31still many have the right to enter with their own car, even if there is a problem of parking.
00:41To try to encourage residents to trade in their petrol or diesel cars, the ZTL does not apply to electric vehicles.
00:48Surrounding the ZTL, there's also the fascia verde, or green band, with restrictions for older, more polluting vehicles.
00:56The mayor of Rome, Roberto Guazieri, has been trying to tighten the rules for the fascia verde,
01:02which would have impacted an estimated 350,000 cars.
01:06However, the regional authorities have now bowed to public pressure and cancelled the new restrictions,
01:12which were due to kick in at the start of November.
01:15The existing rules have already had an impact on Rome's air quality, which has been steadily improving over the past decade,
01:22although the city is still a long way from meeting World Health Organization guidelines on clean air.
01:28Meanwhile, as the European Union has toughened its own air quality standards,
01:33more and more cities across the bloc have introduced low emission zones.
01:37Clean air campaigners hope that mayors can learn from their predecessors,
01:42for example, in how to actually implement a new zone.
01:46When we look at the low emission zone in Milan, that also started with referendum.
01:52That's the first example, if I'm not mistaken, that is actually a bottom-up approach.
01:58So, through a bottom-up approach, a low emission zone was implemented in Milan.
02:03So, this is also what social acceptability, but bringing actors into the process, is about.
02:09The big challenge for Rome's government is providing viable alternatives to cars
02:14for residents who feel the public transport network is unsafe and unreliable.
02:19Metro lines are being extended and new bike lanes are being built,
02:23but it seems many Rome residents are not quite ready to give up their personal cars just yet.
02:30Giles Gibson for CGTN, Rome.