In France, access to these zones is determined by air quality certificates, better known as the Crit’Air sticker. The law of August 2021 makes the creation of a ZFE mandatory in all agglomerations with a population of more than 150,000 inhabitants by December 31, 2024. Thus, they will apply to the 45 most densely populated agglomerations in metropolitan France.

A “social bomb” that punishes the poorest

Yes, except that since then, if the major cities have established their ZFEs with more or less strict timetables, some are already retreating, like Lyon. Indeed, the capital of Gaul, which is run by EELV marie, has just decided to postpone measures that would have banned vehicles with the Crit’Air 2 sticker until 2026 (that is, all diesel cars on the market without exception, as well as gasoline cars put into circulation before 2011 ). This should be postponed until 2028.

At the moment, Lyon is an exception to this delay, but several ongoing discussions may well make other French cities reconsider the appropriateness of this measure.

But why this back pedaling? The environmental manager of the Lyon metropolis points the finger in particular the social consequences of banning the circulation of diesel vehicles for the most humble motoristsbut also artisans, as well as companies that are mostly equipped with it and therefore will soon no longer have access to the city center.

At the same time, several elected officials support the measure. This is what the boss of the Communists, Fabien Roussel, called for “come back” in low-emission zones in large agglomerations. He believes that it is a “a social bomb that punishes the poorest”.

Is the end of ZEP coming soon?

But are these EPZs doomed to failure? At the moment, the metropolises, with the exception of Lyon (and again, this is a postponement of the event), seem to be sticking to the originally planned schedule, even if there was a delay, especially in Lille.

On the other hand, some politicians seem to be well aware that the integration of these famous EPZs is going too fast in certain areas, in the sense that this measure finally punishes first of all the humblestthose who do not have the opportunity to change the car to a so-called “cleaner” one.

So we should expect further delays in some cities, but a clean repeal of the ZFE looks unlikely today. And in general, ZFEs will disappear by themselves with the advent of the electric caras well as banning the sale of thermal and hybrid models in Europe from 2035. But this is another topic, and this time it is certain countries that do not necessarily agree with this measure.