The
National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 sets a reduction of 27 million tons of CO2 for transport and mobility until 2030. This brings with it
A series of measures among which the creation of Low Emission Zones (ZBE) in which the oldest and most polluting cars will not be able to circulate is contemplated.
As explained from the
IDAEAlthough Low Emission Zones have been promoted in many European Union countries, their requirements are not harmonized throughout the EU. For this reason, ZBEs are governed by specific regulations at the municipal or country level.
Low Emission Zones are delimited zones within a city
where access to vehicles with more emitters and pollutants is limited to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles -carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) or hydrocarbons (HC)-, as established by the Ministry of Ecological Transition in its guidelines for the creation of the ZBE.
The law aims to promote ecological urban mobility with the implementation of Low Emission Zones, before 2023, in the 149 Spanish municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants -according to official figures from the National Institute of Statistics-, in which more than 25 reside. million people (53% of the inhabitants of Spain).
As explained from
Multi-helparticle 14 of Law 7/2021, of May 20, on climate change and energy transition defines this term: “A low emission zone is understood to be the area delimited by a public Administration, in the exercise of its powers, within its territory, on an ongoing basis, and in which vehicle access, movement and parking restrictions are applied to improve air quality and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, in accordance with the classification of vehicles by their level of emissions in accordance with the provisions of the General Vehicle Regulations in force.”
In addition, cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants must also implement LEZs within the same period, if their air quality is poor.
For the design of Low Emissions Zones, City Councils must establish objectives that allow improving air quality, guarantee compliance with the regulated limits for different pollutants and tend to reach the standards defined by the
World Health Organization, as well as greenhouse gas emission reduction targets consistent with those determined by the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan. From there, they must articulate the necessary measures so that the Low Emission Zones contribute to achieving these objectives.
The guidelines do not determine a minimum extension for low emission zones, which will depend on the characteristics of each municipality, but they do indicate that it must be significant and sufficient to meet the objectives.
Madrid and Barcelona These are two of the cities where Low Emission Zones are already in operation, but other localities have already followed suit and are implementing them or have projects for their entry into operation. To regulate the access of vehicles to these areas, which will have to be established
municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants in 2023, the environmental classifications and the ‘stickers’ of the DGT will be taken into account. The oldest vehicles, with more than 15 years, are the most affected, since they do not have a badge, and therefore they will not be able to circulate in a large number of cases.
environmental badges
The team of experts from
Legalites reminds us of the types of environmental labels and the vehicles they affect:
1. The Zero Labelcolored blue, is given to vehicles (including motorcycles and mopeds) with zero emissions, that is, battery electric vehicles (BEV), extended range electric vehicle (REEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) with a greater range 40 km or fuel cell vehicles.
2. Eco labelin green and blue, is delivered to eco-friendly vehicles (including motorcycles and mopeds), which include plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) with a range of less than 40 km, non-plug-in hybrid vehicles (HEV), vehicles propelled by natural gas (CNG and LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
3. The C label, green, is intended for gasoline cars and light vans registered as of January 2006 and diesel as of 2014. Vehicles with more than 8 seats and goods transport, both gasoline and diesel, registered as of of 2014. The DGT points out that “gasoline must comply with the Euro 4, 5 and 6 standard and in Diesel the Euro 6”. For motorcycles it would be Euro 3 and Euro 4.
4. Label Byellow, is worn on gasoline passenger cars and light vans registered as of January 2000 and diesel as of January 2006. Vehicles with more than 8 seats and freight, both gasoline and diesel registered from 2005. It would also be for motorcycles that comply with the Euro 2 standard.
5. The rest of the vehiclesdepending on their age, they would not have any label, or they would be considered as label A, although, to date, this type of label has not been endowed with any type of format or distinctive.
Thus, the
ZBE-Rounds of Barcelonain operation since 2020, which covers five municipalities, including Barcelona, about 100 square kilometers with two million inhabitants where vehicles without an environmental label -the most polluting- are prohibited from circulating, from 7 in the morning until 8 pm.
In Madrid (3,334,000 inhabitants)As of 2025, access and circulation on all public and urban roads in the municipality is prohibited for vehicles without the right to a DGT badge. For non-residents (not registered or not domiciled in Madrid capital), as of 2022 their access and circulation on urban public roads inside the M-30 will be prohibited, but they will be able to circulate on the M-30.
In 2023, their access and circulation on urban public roads inside the M-30 will be prohibited and they will not be able to do so on the M-30 itself.
As of 2024, its access and circulation on all public and urban roads in the municipality of Madrid is prohibited.
In addition, non-residents in the ZBE of the Central District (registered in Madrid capital, but not residents in said area, since January 1, 2022 can no longer access it, with the exception of merchants who have premises in this Classic cars that can circulate in the ZBE of the Central District will also enjoy the opportune exception, but, without being able to park on the street, must use a public or private parking, unless they are more than 50 years old. .
Finally, it must be taken into account that the aforementioned restrictions only apply to passenger cars, therefore, motorcycles, mopeds, vans and trucks will be able to access and circulate through the Madrid ZBE regardless of their environmental classification until January 1, 2025.
In Bilbao (350,000 inhabitants), a city where a large part of the trips (65%) are usually made on foot, explain from the City Council that the city is experiencing a ‘cultural transition’ in terms of mobility. The entire city has adopted the 30 km/h limit, the taxi fleet is being electrified, something that the City Council also intends to do with carriers.
In Murcia (459,000 inhabitants) The closure of one of the city’s main avenues – Gran Vía – has been announced every Sunday since October, as a measure to reduce the use of private vehicles and promote sustainable mobility. In addition to pedestrianization measures, according to municipal sources, work is currently being done to delimit low-emission zones, and the expansion of areas with restricted access, the creation of three new park-and-ride car parks and a new urban transport model, among other measures.
In Ciudad Real (75,000 inhabitants) its City Council has already proposed the extension of the ZBE Ciudad Real Central, which if approved would cover from the round to the interior of the capital and would involve pedestrianization in nine streets of the urban center, where the circulation of motor vehicles will be prohibited.
For its part, the City Council
Rivas-Vaciamadrid (98,000 inhabitants) During the past summer, it has installed Low Emission Zones in all the environments of the schools and institutes of the town, where access restrictions will be established, in order to make the city “more habitable, safer and healthier”, explain municipal sources.