Air quality improves in Denmark’s largest cities following diesel vehicle ban

Air quality has improved slightly in Denmark’s four largest cities and Frederiksberg after a ban on diesel vehicles without special particulate filters in designated urban zones. Researchers at the National Center for Environment and Energy have reported a 36% reduction in particulate pollution from vehicle traffic in these zones, marking a significant improvement.

Senior researcher Steen Solvang Jensen from Aarhus University, who contributed to the report, emphasized the importance of reducing particulate matter, as it has the most substantial health benefits. He stated that environmental zones make sense given these measurement results. “In general, environmental zones are a good idea because they require cleaner vehicles in areas densely populated by residents. This leads to lower emissions and improves air quality,” he noted.

Despite the positive changes, Jensen acknowledged that the overall reduction is modest when considering the broader context. He highlighted that local initiatives, while effective in their areas, should be complemented by both national and international regulation. A significant portion of urban air pollution comes from sources other than vehicles, such as wood stoves, agriculture, and road traffic.

Currently, around 3,700 people die prematurely in Denmark due to air pollution, with only 700 of these deaths attributed to emissions from domestic sources. The introduction of environmental zones may save only 2 to 3 lives prematurely, but Jensen argues that their positive impacts are significant relative to the small number of affected drivers.

Environmental zones exist in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Odense, Aarhus, and Aalborg, with a recent ban on private diesel vehicles without specific particulate filters, which incurs a fine of 1,500 kroner for violations, monitored through automatic license plate recognition.