In Dec 2015 issue I talked you about the COP21 on Climate Change where crucial decisions have to be taken by crucial institutions: central governments. While waiting for this to happens, local institutions (e.g. city councils) must act promptly and quickly. This Winter is proving to be quite strange, hotter than usual, very dry, with unusual weather events.

During the Christmas period, when private traffic increases, particulate matter of any size (PM10, PM5, PM2.5) polluted cities and not only in the EU, but also in China and India that decided to stop traffic for a number of hours per day for some days, up to two weeks.

In Italy many cities adopted solutions without any general coordination. Rome, Milan and some other cities partially banned vehicle circulation in accordance with their numberplate's final number. Milan then banned private traffic from 10am to 4pm for three consecutive days; Turin offered free public transport for three days and in other days, same as Milan, one bus ticket would entitle to use public transport for the entire day. In some days bike sharing service was free for the entire day, etc.. Naples adopted a mix of several solutions and then, thank God, it rained and all problems were - temporarily - washed away.

No strategy, no planning, no studies. When there are peaks of pollution cities react emotionally to lower the PMx levels (for EU cities: also to avoid being fined). Measurements in Milan showed that these solutions didn't bring any added value: in fact, PMx concentration increased also when private traffic was banned.

Solutions to pollution caused by traffic must be studied, analysed and planned. They must take into account the economic and logistic impacts of adopting certain measures whilst ensuring the citizens'  mobility freedom.

Signing the Covenant of Mayors is a good first step for cities to be committed to sustainable solutions, but their implementation in relation to traffic must be properly designed with a multi-annual vision; it must be independent from local/national elections and it cannot be quickly carried out under emotional pressure.

The respect of Environment depends on each of us but as some don't have enough sensitivity, sensible laws & regulations must be enforced to preserve scenarios such as the one pictured below.

Kind Regards,

Founder, CEO