2022/435/DK
EC/EFTA
DK Danemark
  • B30 - Environnement
2022-09-19
2022-07-20

The rules allow municipal councils in all municipalities of the country to establish zero-emission zones in demarcated urban areas, where, as a rule, only vehicles that do not emit CO2 when driving may be used.

Act amending environmental protection (zero-emission zones in demarcated urban areas)

The bill will allow the municipal councils of the country to establish zero-emission zones in demarcated urban areas, where, as a rule, there is only access for zero-emission vehicles. However, plug-in hybrid vehicles will have access to zero-emission zones for a transitional period until the end of 2025.

The bill proposes that the Minister of Environment be authorised to lay down the detailed rules for the zero-emission zone scheme, including the content requirements, the information basis that the municipal council must issue in public consultation and in subsequent consultation with the Minister of Environment, as well as procedural requirements, such as the involvement of the public in the municipality’s proposal to establish a zero-emission zone.

It is proposed that municipal councils should be able to choose between two types of zero-emission zones. One type of zone covers only passenger traffic (passenger cars, minibuses, private vans, motorcycles, mopeds and taxis) and the other type of zone covers all traffic (also including other vans, lorries, tractors and buses). In the interests of trade, supplies of goods and construction in the zone, it is proposed to exempt lorries weighing more than 12 tonnes. It is also proposed to exempt vehicles used by the armed forces, police, ambulances or similar emergency services from the requirements, to ensure that they will not be prevented from performing their work.

A zero-emission zone must be established in such a way that it will continue to be possible to live, trade and move within the zone, and therefore clear general exemptions and specific derogations for citizens and economic operators must be ensured. It is therefore proposed that the Minister of Environment be authorised to lay down detailed rules on general exemptions. Since zero-emission zones can be established in demarcated urban areas, it is considered that case officers in the individual municipalities have the best local knowledge in relation to assessing and deciding specific cases of exemption. It is therefore proposed that the individual municipalities carry out the exemption policy for the municipality’s own zero-emission zones. In order to ensure a reasonably uniform exemption practice, the Minister of Environment is authorised to be able to establish a framework within which municipal councils may grant exemptions. The exemption policy would make it possible to ensure that special vehicles or specific situations are taken into account.