Conurbations of more than 150,000 inhabitants will not be obliged to set up low emission zones (ZFE), under certain conditions. These were specified in a decree published on Saturday December 24 in the Official newspaper. The generalization of these zones is provided for by law in forty-three urban areas in metropolitan France as of December 31, 2024, but derogations were provided for and are thus formalized in a text.
The obligation to establish an EPZ is waived when it is demonstrated “that the annual average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) are less than or equal to 10 μg/m³ [microgrammes par mètre cube] », specifies the decree signed in particular by the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne. This level corresponds to the World Health Organization (WHO) thresholds, which are more stringent than the current European limit values.
“It is difficult to know which are the agglomerations which, in 2025, will respect the WHO thresholds”says the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion. “But it is of the order of a few agglomerations, less than ten a priori, which should benefit from this derogation”explained this source to Agence France-Presse.
“The establishment of EPZs will only be mandatory when it is really necessary”
Agglomerations can also be exempted from the ZFE if they propose alternative measures with equivalent effect.
They must demonstrate at the latest eighteen months before the deadline for the introduction obligation that the actions implemented make it possible to reach the limit concentrations of nitrogen dioxide “within shorter timeframes or similar to those resulting from the establishment of a low-emissions zone mobility [ZFE-m] »specifies the decree.
“The establishment of EPZs will only be mandatory when it is really necessary”we comment on the ministry. “This derogation does not dilute anything in terms of public health” because “it does not lower the level of ambition vis-à-vis air pollution”insists this source.
ZFEs already concern eleven French cities, the first of which were Lyon, Grenoble and Paris. They aim to gradually ban the most polluting vehicles.