Short Research Stories: Evaluating the effectiveness of low-emission zones in cities

The UN predicts that by 2050, 70% of the world's population will live in cities, compared to around 56% today. This means more traffic in these areas, more air pollution, and consequently a negative impact on air quality, health and climate.

One solution, though controversial in many countries, would be to create low-emission zones (LEZs) where vehicle use is regulated according to several criteria and scenarios. Prof. Virginie Lurkin and her co-authors studied the overall air pollution consequences of different LEZ scenarios. The results show that depending on the configuration of the LEZs, road users may change their habits in such a way that the potential benefits of LEZs are reduced. If that is the case, how do we increase the chances of a better outcome? Lurkin emphasizes the need to take user behavior into account when planning and designing LEZs.

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(in French)