Air pollution is a problem for most of the world’s cities. Many cities in India and China continue to face major public health crises due to their polluted air. American cities also don’t escape from polluted air. Californian cities still struggle with smog despite decades of effort to reduce it. But one major city that has waged a successful battle against air pollution is Paris, France.
Over the past 20 years, Paris has transformed its air by trading automobile roads for bike lanes, adding green spaces, and eliminating 50,000 parking spaces.
According to independent air quality tracking, levels of fine particulate matter in Paris have decreased 55% since 2005 and nitrogen dioxide levels have fallen 50%. A combination of regulations and public policies including steps to limit traffic and ban the most polluting vehicles have produced these results.
Despite pushback from various sources such as car owners’ associations, suburban commuters, and right-leaning politicians, Parisians have continued to pursue cleaner air policies. In April, Parisians voted to turn an additional 500 streets over to pedestrians. Last year, Paris sharply increased parking fees for SUVs, forcing drivers to pay three times more than they would for smaller cars.
Ambitious policymaking can directly improve health in large cities. As one former advisor to the city explains, the French capital has developed “an urban policy based on well-being.”
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Paris said au revoir to cars. Air pollution maps reveal a dramatic change.
Photo, posted June 3, 2018, courtesy of Francisco Anzola via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio
