Important news on the future of diesel arrives from Germany and Rome. The mayor of the capital, Virginia Raggi, announced on Facebook that, "starting from 2024, the use of diesel cars will be prohibited in the city center". It is already known, however, that in six years the mayor of the Grillina will no longer sit at the top of the Campidoglio, who in the past has already clarified her intention not to run again.
“If we want to intervene seriously – added Raggi – we must have the courage to adopt strong measures. We must act on the causes and not only on the effects. Climate change is changing our lifestyle habits. Our cities risk finding themselves facing unexpected challenges. We are increasingly witnessing extreme phenomena: drought for long periods, as is happening in Lazio; rainfall that in one day can pour an entire month's rain onto the ground; or even unusual snowfalls at low altitudes such as those which are affecting Italy in these days. For this we must act quickly ”.
Raggi's announcement comes after the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig decided to allow German cities to ban diesel cars. This is a historic ruling, because it allows the Lands and Municipalities to impose the stop without the need for federal legislation that establishes the need not to exceed certain pollution limits.
The decision of the Leipzig judges could have repercussions in a short time in cities such as Stuttgart and Dusseldorf, where the conditions for stopping diesel cars already exist.
However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel explained that the sentence "will not affect all motorists", even if "the Government will discuss with the Regions and municipalities how to proceed".
