The plans for a petrol and diesel-free zone in central Stockholm have suffered yet another major setback. The County Administrative Board is now overturning the red-green coalition’s decision to introduce low-emission zone class 3, citing that the consequences for the economy and accessibility outweigh the benefits. The decision is met with sharp criticism from the Green Party, which has already pledged to appeal.
The proposal for a class 3 low-emission zone was presented by the City of Stockholm, governed by the Social Democrats, the Green Party, and the Left Party, during 2024. It would have meant that certain parts of the inner city would be closed to vehicles powered by petrol or diesel.
READ ALSO: Stockholm’s Red-Green Coalition to Make Driving More Difficult
Had the plan gone through, Stockholm would have become one of the first cities in the world with such extensive restrictions on fossil-fuel vehicles in its city center.
Criticism from Businesses and the Opposition
Since the proposal was introduced, opposition has been fierce. Businesses in the area have warned of difficulties with transport and deliveries, while opposition parties – especially the Moderates – have criticized the project for making the city center less accessible.
READ ALSO: Halt to Stockholm’s Low-Emission Zone 3
The planned introduction at the turn of 2024 therefore never took place. The issue has since been reviewed several times among various authorities.
County Administrative Board: Benefits Do Not Outweigh the Drawbacks
The County Administrative Board had previously stopped the decision, citing deficiencies in the city’s investigation. After the City of Stockholm appealed, and the Swedish Transport Agency judged the documentation sufficient, the matter was sent back for reevaluation.
READ ALSO: County Board Halted Low-Emission Zone 3 – But Signs Were Still Put Up
Now, the same message is delivered again—the low-emission zone is halted. The authority believes that the negative consequences for the national economy and accessibility outweigh the positive effects the zone is expected to generate.
The County Administrative Board has weighed the evidence regarding, on one hand, the benefit of the low-emission zone, and on the other, the burdensome societal and economic consequences that such rules would entail. With that in mind, the Board has concluded that the municipality did not have sufficient reason to impose a class 3 low-emission zone in the area in question.
The County Administrative Board
The Moderate Party’s opposition city commissioner, Dennis Wedin, describes the decision as a success and claims the plans were both costly and unrealistic.
He argues that the low-emission zone risked creating severe problems for both residents and businesses in the city center, and now hopes the matter is settled for good.
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The Green Party, however, does not share this view. Traffic Commissioner Lars Strömgren (Green Party) says that poor air quality remains a serious issue in Stockholm, especially for children, the elderly, and pregnant women. He will not give up and will ensure that petrol and diesel vehicles are banned from the zone.
– I therefore regret that the County Administrative Board has revoked the decision on class 3 low-emission zones, Strömgren told SVT.
The party therefore announces that they intend to appeal the decision to the Swedish Transport Agency in a renewed attempt to push the low-emission zone through.