Madrid Central
Wikimedia Commons
Six months ago, the Spanish capital created one of the most ambitious low-emission schemes in Europe, called Madrid Central. Now, the city’s new conservative mayor, Jose Martínez-Almeida, wants to roll back the initiative, provoking outrage among civil society, environmental groups and the opposition parties.
Under Madrid Central—which covers 472 hectares—only electric, hybrid and residents’ vehicles have unlimited access to the city center. Petrol vehicles made before the year 2000 and diesel cars made before 2006 have a transitory period to access until 2020, on condition of parking in car parks instead of the streets. It was one of the most significant policies of the previous mayor, the former judge, and left-wing politician Manuela Carmena.
The aim of the scheme was to cut nitrogen dioxide levels to fight against air pollution, but the plan has also served to make the city more attractive. Since it was put into operation in December 2018, Madrid Central has been consolidated as a leading example—not only for its efficiency reducing pollution levels but also because it prioritizes pedestrians, bicycles and public transport, placing citizens at the center of public space.
Yet, the recently-elected Popular Party (PP)’s new mayor has wasted no time in taking the first step to scrap the low-emission scheme. Last week, Almeida announced the temporary suspension of fines for violating the new traffic rules in the city center. Polluting cars will again have access to the area, since there is no penalty against it.
Almeida already attacked the scheme during the local elections campaign and promised to reverse it if he became mayor. For that, he would need the support of the center-right Ciudadanos–that runs Madrid in coalition with the PP—and the far-right Vox, the external ally of PP and Ciudadanos in the city council. Both of them have been very critic with Carmena’s initiative, but recently Ciudadanos has gone from wanting to reverse Madrid Central to just modify it.
Pollution has dropped to historical levels in Madrid
The main argument used by Almeida to justify the end of Madrid Central is that it is inefficient. However, the data proves otherwise. According to Ecologistas en Acción, which publishes a monthly report of air quality in the capital since the scheme came into operation, pollution has dropped to historical levels during the last few months.
Levels of nitrogen dioxide have fallen by 48% in the city center and all pollution measurement stations in Madrid have recorded lower levels than in the same period last year. In addition, there is a “contagion effect” in the surrounding areas of the city center, where there has been a significant reduction in pollution levels as well.
“In view of the good results offered by Madrid Central, it would be real nonsense to eliminate it or modify it in any sense that suppresses its effectiveness (reducing its ability to limit traffic). We need more Madrid Central, not less,” states the green organization in the report.
Madrid Central provokes an automotive revolution
Another positive effect of the low-emission scheme has been the boom in the sale of low-polluting vehicles in Madrid. According to the Spanish Association of Car and Truck Manufacturers (ANFAC), the purchase of low-polluting cars in Madrid represented 58% of the total sales in Spain (2.927 units) in the first quarter of 2019. In March, the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles increased by 219.2% – three times more than in Catalonia – and at the end of May, there were almost 5.000 units sold.
Risk of EU action: Brussels could sanction Spain
In 2018 the European Commission gave an ultimatum to Spain and other eight EU countries for exceeding the limits of pollution by nitrogen dioxide since 2010. The EU Executive opened an infringement procedure to the nine member states and threatened to bring them before the EU Court of Justice unless their governments presented concrete plans to reverse the situation.
Madrid Central was key to avoid going before the European justice. In May 2018, the Commission finally denounced the four European major powers—Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom—plus Romania and Hungary, but Spain was not in the list. The low-emission scheme saved the peninsula from a huge fine, although the implementation of the plans to reduce air pollution was subjected to strict surveillance of Brussels.
The Commission is now looking closely to Spain. If Madrid Central is removed, the City Council would have to come up with an alternative plan to comply with the EU rules on emissions and air pollution. It would be really hard to understand such a move considering Madrid Central good results.
