From 25 February 2019, the most polluting vehicles are banned. The Area B measure comes into force in the area surrounding Milan's historic centre. Here is everything you need to know.
The countdown has now begun. Area B in Milan comes into force on 25 February 2019, a measure that bans the most polluting vehicles from entering the large zone surrounding the city's historic centre. Area B, delimited by 186 access points, is therefore a low emission zone that prevents the circulation of older, more polluting cars — including gas-powered ones — as well as larger goods vehicles and those transporting hazardous materials. From 25 February, the ban applies to polluting vehicles up to and including Euro 3 diesel across the entire city from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm, Monday to Friday.
Area B is the largest low emission zone in Italy and will cover 97.6 per cent of the resident population and 72 per cent of the entire municipal territory. Within it, entry will be prohibited for Euro 0 petrol and Euro 0, 1, 2, 3 diesel vehicles and, progressively, in successive steps through to 2030, for all diesel vehicles. The measure, backed by the city administration led by Beppe Sala and Marco Granelli, councillor for Mobility and the Environment, allows Milan to place itself at the same level as other major European cities, such as Paris, Berlin and Brussels, which will adopt a similar plan also in 2019. The same measure will also be followed by Barcelona in 2020.
The decision to adopt this plan, which covers three quarters of the city's territory, was taken "to combat air pollution and to protect neighbourhoods from heavy traffic". In May 2018, Italy was referred to the European Court for repeatedly exceeding pollution limits considered safe for health. Furthermore, infringement proceedings for exceeding air quality limits relating to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) remain open.
According to the association Cittadini per l'Aria, which last November published a report and an interactive map monitoring the state of Milan's air, the measured concentrations averaged above 91 µg/m³ of PM10, a level more than double the annual legal limit for this pollutant, and above 41 µg/m³ of PM2.5, more than four times the limit set by the WHO.
"The concentrations of particulate matter found (PM10, PM2.5, PM1) – the association writes – are so high that, as demonstrated by recent epidemiological research, they can cause harm to health even after brief exposure; those most at risk are children and young people in the growth phase, the elderly, and people with heart conditions."
What the city administration emphasises is that the measure will be gradual, as part of a plan running through to 2030, by which point not even Euro 6 diesels will be permitted to circulate.
On 25 February, 15 cameras will be activated at the same number of access points on via Anassagora, via Pirelli, via Sarca, via Giuditta Pasta, via Gallarate, via Tofano, via Basilea, via Zurigo, via Gonin, via Baroni, via Cassinis, via Rogoredo, via Carlo Feltrinelli, via Mecenate and via Fantoli. From March, a further 78 cameras will progressively be installed, bringing the total to 98 cameras by the end of 2019. All 188 access points will be completed by 1 October 2020.
Also from 25 February, a trial scheme will begin for Euro 3 and Euro 4 diesel vehicles owned by market traders who hold a concession in the spaces of Milan's municipal neighbourhood markets valid until 31 December 2020. These vehicles will be permitted to circulate until the concession expires, thanks to a "black box", the OBU (on board unit), up to a maximum of 1,000 kilometres per year travelled within Area B. Market traders with Euro 0, 1 and 2 diesel vehicles will not be permitted to circulate unless they fit a DPF.
Area B, between 2019 and 2026, will make it possible to reduce atmospheric emissions from traffic by a total of around 25 tonnes of PM10 at the exhaust and 900–1,500 tonnes of nitrogen oxides. As regards PM10, the acceleration will be immediate: 14 per cent fewer emissions in 2019, 24 per cent in 2020, and a further reduction of 21 per cent in 2021. In the first four years, PM10 emissions will fall by half, that is, by 15 tonnes. Measurable reductions are also expected for NOx: the estimate, between 2019 and 2022, is 4–5 per cent per year.
To allow lower-income families to adapt and scrap the most polluting vehicles, the administration has introduced incentives for residents with an ISEE income below 14,000 euros who wish to purchase new vehicles, provided they are resident in Milan. The contributions will be allocated exclusively for replacing diesel-powered cars (from Euro 0 to Euro 4) with hybrid, electric, petrol, methane or LPG vehicles. The administration has also provided for a 70 per cent discount on the standard annual season ticket for the public transport network, for around 2,500 people. Incentives will also be accessible for replacing an old vehicle with an electrically powered scooter, a cargo bike with pedal assist or electric propulsion, provided it is type-approved for road use.
"In order to allow everyone to comply with the new rules – the Municipality also announces – and without penalising occasional use during the first twelve months of implementation of the measure, everyone will have fifty days of free circulation. On first access, the driver will receive an alert by post explaining how the measure works, inviting them to regularise their position and also to register on the portal to monitor and manage their available access days. From the second year of Area B's entry into force, Milan residents and city businesses will have 25 days per year of free circulation, and everyone else five days. The penalty will only be triggered once the free circulation days have been used up."