The smog nightmare returns to various Italian cities and Rome kicks off to ecological Sundays 2020. It starts with Sunday 19 January, the next one, and continues until March. In total 4 Sundays on foot for the Romans and for the tourists. All electric, hybrid and gas cars, Euro 5 petrol and Euro 6 diesel engines and those for the transport of the disabled are exempt from the blockade. Circumscribed to the Green Band. Let's see in detail the dates and times for these days.
The premiere is scheduled for next Sunday, The 19 January. Following on 9, 23 and finally on 29 March. These dates have been chosen by evaluating the periods considered most critical for the weather conditions, in order to avoid conflicts with important events. In this regard, the Municipality of Rome has specified that there may be changes in the case of particular events, making public interests prevail.
As for the timetable, it will be the same for every Sunday and it will leave from 7: 30 to 12: 30 and the 16: 30 to 20: 30.
The decision by the Municipality of Rome was announced after a hot December, with no rain and no wind, and a cold but sunny January. The whole has brought our country to its knees. The problem of fine dust beyond the permitted limits remains an unresolved issue for many regions of Italy. So much so that, to stem the problem, many municipal administrations have had to resort to emergency solutions.
In Rome, the anti-smog alarm led to the blocking of the most polluting cars in the Ztl Fascia Verde in recent days, 12 and 13 January. Given the high levels of PM10, beyond the permitted threshold, the mayor Raggi has ordered the blocking of circulation also for all diesel cars up to Euro 6, for today 14 January from 7.30 to 10,30 and from 16,30 to 20.30, making this stop much more restrictive. "A decision taken with incredible delay" - said the president of Legambiente Lazio, Roberto Sacchi.
However, from a scientific point of view, this decision appears to have no environmental advantage and, at the same time, penalizes citizens unnecessarily. The Euro 5 and Euro 6 engines have PM emissions well below the legal limits, close to zero, as demonstrated by various studies.
Therefore, a truly effective policy for improving air quality in urban centers should focus on a multidisciplinary approach and not on blocking the circulation of more efficient models which do not have highly harmful effects on the environment, but on consumer choices, slowing down thus the replacement of the car fleet. To accelerate this improvement, one could proceed with the replacement of older cars and buses with the latest generation models, and with the renewal of local public transport, in order to make traffic more fluid.
Red stamp again for Torino: traffic restrictions confirmed until Thursday 16 January. The stop concerns diesel cars up to Euro 5 and petrol up to Euro 1. New ordinances also for Florence and Emilia-Romagna.
The provisions are not aimed only at motorists, so much so that even heating systems they must not exceed 17-18° C.
