In the recently released year 2023, the climate change law requires all municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants to develop plans to introduce the so-called Low Emission Zones (ZBE), restricting the access of countless cars to the urban centers of the affected places . . This in more than 150 Spanish municipalities.
According to Sumauto, in Spain
about 11.5 million cars circulate through these cities and of them the measure will affect at least nearly four million vehicles, which do not have a DGT badge. And it is that this badge, which categorizes vehicles according to their level of pollution, will be the one that will set the standard for which vehicles are allowed to enter these areas and which are not.
But apart from the access restrictions for vehicles considered the most polluting vehicles, the climate change law hides a B side, according to which local entities can introduce additional measures within the construction sector, measures for the replacement of heating systems, efficient energy recovery and promotion of air conditioning systems without emissions.
In addition, adaptive interventions in urban areas can be included, such as those aimed at mitigating the urban heat island effect or increasing urban green with adapted species, as explained by
Sustainable building.
For example, the regulation stipulates that local entities or town halls will ensure that they have tools in place that make it easier for charging service operators to process and locate electric vehicle charging points, with public access inside and outside the LEZs, so that a minimum of charging points network will be built in step with the growth of the electric vehicle fleet.
In addition to the Spanish regulations envisaged in the Climate Change Act, the European Council has agreed on a set of strict rules to ensure that all buildings are “zero-emissions” by 2050.
represent more than 30% of emissions of greenhouse gases from the European Union, for which reason “reducing them is essential to achieve climate neutrality in the coming years”. In this context, the European Council reached an agreement (general approach) on a proposal to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, part of the Fit for 55 package. The main objectives of the revision are for new buildings to be zero-emission by 2030 and all existing buildings will become zero-emission buildings by 2050.
As for the ZBEs being set up in Spain this year, these areas can introduce additional measures to encourage migration to zero-emission technologies within the construction sector. Measures can be developed to replace heating systems with alternatives that emit less greenhouse gases and other pollutants. In addition, initiatives will be promoted for efficient energy recovery and for the promotion of zero-emission air conditioning systems.
The standard defines a number
concrete and measurable objectives in the field of low-emission zones in cities, which are easy to monitor and evaluate. In addition, it sets the minimum requirements to be met by these areas in terms of important aspects such as extension, demarcation or access conditions, and provides legal certainty to individuals and companies through homogeneous legislation throughout the national territory.
For example, Royal Decree 1052/2022 of 27 December, which regulates low-emission zones, stipulates that LEZs must contribute to improving air quality and mitigating climate change, in addition to promoting compliance with acoustic quality objectives, promoting modal change and the promotion of energy efficiency in the use of means of transport.
The government believes that active mobility should be prioritized through the design of networks of continuous routes of pedestrian preference, safe (ground floor activities, visibility and lighting of the route), accessible and comfortable for the population at large and
for people with reduced mobility or disabilities and other vulnerable populations in particular. “These routes should connect the main residential, commercial, recreational and public service areas. On the other hand, the priority route networks for pedestrians must connect the main nodes of the public transport network in such a way that the routes are also useful for covering the last kilometers of longer distances by public transport,” he clarifies.
It is also being considered
reclamation of space for people and speed limiting, considering vehicle speed as “a key element of road safety”. For example, it is stated that driving at a lower speed reduces the number of accidents, increases responsiveness and contributes to the reduction of noise with public health benefits (sleep quality, reduction of stress and anxiety, work capacity, etc.).
The Royal Decree aims, as the ultimate goal, to comply with the updated version of the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on air quality, published in 2021, which, based on available scientific knowledge, contains the levels of air quality standards for the protection of public health.
With regard to climate change mitigation targets, local entities should define measurable and quantifiable 2030 targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in LEZs, in a manner consistent with the targets set in the
National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC)in particular to reduce the use of private motorized vehicles compared to other modes of transport.
LEZ projects are expected to undergo a 30-day public information period, and the s
control system and follow-up, which make it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken and the achievement of the objectives, to evaluate the project within a period of three years after its creation and every four years thereafter.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
