Kraków becomes first Polish city to ban older cars in anti-pollution drive

Kraków is to become the first city in Poland to ban older cars from its streets in a bid to cut pollution. A leading local climate activism group, Kraków Smog Alarm, says it is also the first city in Central and Eastern Europe to do so.

The new “clean transport zone” – which was proposed by the mayor and approved by a majority of local councillors yesterday – will cover the whole city and will begin to be introduced in mid-2024.

Initially, petrol-powered cars that are over 31 years old and diesel cars more than 27 years old will be barred from the city’s roads. From mid-2026, the rules will be tightened: petrol cars over 25 years old and diesel vehicles over 15 will no longer be allowed, reports TVP.

Fines will await drivers who break the rules, which will be enforced by municipal police. However, motorists aged 70 and over will be exempt from the restrictions, as will vehicles used by the emergency services and vintage cars.

Kraków has long struggled with some of Polands – and Europe’s – worst air pollution. On Monday this week it briefly topped a live ranking of the most polluted major cities in the world.

The biggest cause of air pollution in Poland is the burning of coal to heat homes – something that Kraków already banned in 2019 (although heating emissions from surrounding areas still pollute the city).

While many have welcomed the move to ban older cars, the move has also run into criticism from those who say that the measures impinge on the freedom of residents, and that poorer people would not be able to afford newer, more environmentally friendly vehicles.

News outlet Onet reports that earlier this month a group of protesters descended on city hall brandishing banners saying: “There is no freedom without property” and “Let’s not be eco-suckers.”

The deputy mayor of Kraków, Andrzej Kulig, acknowledged that the new rules were difficult to introduce. But he added that the move was needed and that residents would have time to prepare before the changes come into force, reports the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

Municipal officials estimate that the measures will allow nitrogen oxide emissions in Kraków to be cut by up to half compared to levels recorded in 2019. Such pollution, which is emitted by automobiles, can cause respiratory infections and chronic lung disease.

The new clean transport zone was proposed by Kraków’s mayor, Jacek Majchrowski, and was supported by the majority of city councillors. However, the caucus of the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which rules at the national level, voted against it, reports PAP.

Poland – where coal generates 70% of electricity and heats around one third of households – has regularly been found to have some of Europe’s worst air pollution, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths annually.

Concerns have been voiced that this winter could be even worse than usual after the Polish government suspended quality standards for coal used in home heating amid Moscow’s war in Ukraine, which has seen Russian coal imports banned and prices surging.

Around 320 cities across Europe have so far introduced zones that bar entry to cars producing high emissions, according to broadcaster TOK FM.

Main image credit: Jakub Porzycki / Agencja Gazeta

Peter Kononczuk

Peter Kononczuk is senior editor at Notes from Poland. He was previously a journalist for Agence France-Presse (AFP) in London and Warsaw.