- Stockholm plans to ban petrol and diesel cars in its centre from 2025.
- The ban covers 20 blocks, allowing only electric cars and certain plug-in hybrid vans.
- Stockholm’s initiative sets a global example for prioritizing health and the environment in urban areas.
Stockholm plans to ban petrol and diesel cars in its city centre in 2025
This initiative, spearheaded by Sweden’s Green Party, aims to tackle pressing concerns related to pollution and noise. The ban, will cover 20 blocks of Stockholm’s inner city, including major financial and shopping districts. It’s set to be a trailblazer in the global effort to transform urban centres into cleaner, healthier spaces.
Unlike many other cities, Stockholm’s ban goes beyond restricting diesel cars, encompassing all petrol and diesel vehicles. The city centre will only allow fully electric cars and certain plug-in hybrid vans. The ban will exempt ambulances, police vehicles, and cars transporting individuals with documented disabilities. Alarming health issues, particularly affecting the vulnerable, such as infants and the elderly, have made the ban a necessity for the city.
Stockholm’s Vice-Mayor for Transport, Lars Stromgren, commented:
“Stockholm’s model is more far-reaching. Petrol and diesel cars are prohibited, period. It is more ‘ultra’ than the ultra-low emission zone of London.
We have chosen an area where large numbers of cyclists and pedestrians are exposed to unhealthy air on a daily basis. It is also a part of the city that is home to forward-thinking companies that are keen to lead the transition to a more sustainable future.”
This ambitious step underscores a growing global awareness about the imperative to revolutionize city centres. While several cities have introduced partial measures, Stockholm’s plan represents a monumental leap forward.
By focusing on EVs and fostering a pedestrian-friendly environment, the city sets a remarkable example. This initiative will encourage wider adoption of emobility, setting the stage for cleaner, greener city centres worldwide. As urban areas grapple with pollution and health crises, Stockholm’s resolute ban on petrol and diesel could pave the way for transformative changes. If Stockholm is setting the pace, we can only expect other major cities to follow suit.
