Adios to Madrid Central?
Madrid could become first European city to scrap low-emissions zone
Region’s likely new president Isabel Díaz Ayuso believes congestion is part of city’s cultural identity
Madrid may be about to become the first European city to scrap a major urban low-emissions zone after regional polls left a rightwing politician who views 3am traffic jams as part of the city’s cultural identity on the cusp of power.Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who is expected to become the new Popular party (PP) president of the Madrid region, believes night-time congestion makes the city special and has pledged to reverse a project known as Madrid Central, which has dramatically cut urban pollution.
The PP’s mayor-in-waiting, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, under whose remit the scheme falls, vowed that his first action would be to “address” Madrid Central. “It was one of the pillars of our campaign,” he said. The PP would instead prioritise street cleanliness and conservation, he added.
During the election campaign, Ayuso told El Pais: “I do not think [traffic jams] are a reason for enjoyment but it is a sign [of the] identity of our city, that the street is always alive.”
Congestion is “part of the life in Madrid”, she said, adding that the city’s nightlife “goes hand in hand with traffic jams”.
A reversal of the popular Madrid Central system would mark the first time a major European city had turned the clock back on clean air reform. The scheme has attracted the ire of conservatives as a totem of the outgoing Mas Madrid movement and its leftwing leader, Manuela Carmena.
Greeting the election result on Sunday, Javier Ortega Smith, the secretary-general of Vox, the PP’s prospective far-right coalition partner, said: “Starting tomorrow, Madrid Central is over.”
An estimated 30,000 Spaniards die each year due to air pollution, according to the European Environment Agency.
Within a month of its launch last November, Madrid Central had cut urban traffic by up to 24% and nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels by 38%. CO2 emissions also fell by 14%.
Pollution tests around the city’s central Plaza del Carmen station last month found that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels had plunged by almost 50% compared to 2018, reaching their lowest point since 2012.
Nuria Blázquez-Sánchez, a spokeswoman for the Ecologists in Action campaign group, said: “Madrid Central has improved air quality even more than expected. City centre residents are happy with the LEZ [low-emissions zone] and voted massively for Manuela Carmena.
“Reversing such a successful project will have severe consequences for public health, particularly the health of vulnerable people like children, pregnant women and the elderly.”
Carmena is a popular figure and Mas Madrid emerged the largest single party from the polls, but without a governing majority.
The centre-right Ciudadanos says it will not talk to Vox, but is thought likely to join a de facto coalition if an accommodation between the extreme right party and the PP emerges from post-election haggling.
Even then, dismantling Madrid Central may be a complicated affair, with environmentalists mounting a rearguard defence of the pollution measure in the city council and courts of law.
The LEZ was introduced after the European commission threatened Spain with legal action unless it complied with the air quality directive.
Comments
Is anybody there who thinks that pollution has plunged in Madrid? Independent of politics, Madrid´s citizens know that pollution in Madrid is increasing more each day. We have to suffer everyday allergies, flu, headache and so on more every day. I live in Cuatro Caminos, I´m working in Sol, I commute by train and underground, I walk through Madrid´s streets and I check that more each day there is more pollution.
If the local government cuts the traffic in Madrid Central, will be there fewer cars but the heating will go on working, then how is going to fall pollution? If one place of the city has less pollution of cars and other places not, can anybody believe that pollution will fall in the whole city?
The Guardian said that CO2 emissions fell by 14 %, but it´s not true. I remember when Mrs. Botella said that CO2 emissions fell and she confirmed it with pollution tests. Nobody believes her. After we knew that her team had done pollution tests in the park among trees. When the local government is rightwing pollution plunges to rightwing citizens and, reverse, when the local government is leftwing pollution plunges to leftwing citizens.
See you.
I've read your comment - totally disagree with you. I don't have the energy to reply right now so I'll go for some cold beers and then maybe ... let's see.
In this case, you are sceptical about the figures that have demonstrated a large fall in NO2 levels in the centre of Madrid. Yet you don't question other "facts and statistics" that the media churns out.
You don't have to go out of Madrid to view the thick layer of contamination over our city. We can see the pollution right here in the centre. Drastic measures have to be taken. It makes no sense to reverse Madrid Central. Indeed, Madrid Central should be extended. I look forward to Madrid receiving a fine from the EU though it will be you and I who have to pay it. The real culprits will get off scot free.
Is there anybody who thinks that pollution has plunged in Madrid? Independent of politics, Madrid´s citizens know that pollution in Madrid is increasing each day. We have to suffer more and more allergies, flu, headaches and so on every day. I live in Cuatro Caminos, I work in Sol, I commute by train and underground, I walk through Madrid´s streets and I can verify there is more pollution.
If the local government cuts the traffic in Madrid Central, there will be fewer cars but the heating will go on working, then how is pollution going to fall? If one place in the city has less pollution created by cars and other places don't, can anybody believe that pollution will fall in the whole of the city? (I'm trying to get my head around what you mean. I think the idea is to try to discourage car use and encourage people to use alternative means)
The Guardian said that CO2 emissions fell by 14 %, but it´s not true. I remember when Mrs. Botella said that CO2 emissions fell and she confirmed it with pollution tests. Nobody believed her. Then we found out that her team had done the pollution tests in the park among trees. When the local government is rightwing, pollution plunges for rightwing citizens and, the reverse, when the local government is leftwing, pollution plunges for leftwing citizens.
Thank God that's over and done with for another week. haha