Dr Yanying Li, Head of Programmes and Knowledge Management at ALICE, the Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe, tells Intertraffic about the impact Low Emissions Zones have on smart urban mobility goals.
A zero-emission zone is an area where only zero-emission vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists are granted unrestricted access. In March 2020, the city of London launched a zero-emission zone pilot covering one 360-metre long street, aiming to improve air quality and encourage walking, cycling and use of zero-emission vehicles. Differing from the famous, world-first congestion charge scheme in London, the scheme applies to all types of vehicles, and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since then another 35 cities from the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group have announced their plans to implement zero-emission zones.
Considering that freight transport is one of the greatest contributions to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the road transport sector, and the biggest air polluter by using diesel-powered vehicles, cities are attempting to achieve their climate ambitions, improve local air quality, and advance use of zero-emission vehicles for freight transport through implementation of zero-emission zones. The Dutch National Climate Agreement requires the logistics sector to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, for example. One of the recommended tools is the implementation of zero-emission zones for freight in the country’s 30-40 largest cities. Together with the plan of the implementation of zero-emission zones, the Netherlands has also developed nationally harmonized principles for zero-emission freight including phasing out existing fossil-fuel commercial vehicles and replacing them with zero-emission vans and trucks. The government offers tax incentives and subsidies between 2021 and 2025 to help the logistics sector’s transition to zero-emission vehicles.
Together with the plan of the implementation of zero-emission zones, the Netherlands has also developed nationally harmonized principles for zero-emission freight including phasing out existing fossil-fuel commercial vehicles and replacing them with zero-emission vans and trucks
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the search for a magix formula
While city authorities and national governments are cheering for the almost ‘magic’ policy instrument that can solve many of their problems, logistics operators and businesses often still have deep concerns. Similar to many good-willed policies, the zero-emission zones come with pitfalls too. Urban logistics covers food deliveries, e-commerce deliveries (B2C), deliveries to small retail shops (B2B), transport of construction materials and waste collection. Therefore, urban logistics operations consist of complex distribution networks and a multitude of actors (e.g. transport operators, logistics hub operators, users) with a variety of ownership and control of commercial fleets, as well varying types of contracts with workers.
Local authorities should not overlook any potential negative impacts on the logistics sector, local businesses and communities. Policy makers are likely aware that implementation of zero-emission zones requires participation of and engagement with the local community and the private sector. Stakeholders to be considered in this context are complex, ranging from global logistics operators, the local post office, global brands and from small independent shops to local citizens. They all have their different needs and their resources as well their attitudes towards zero-emission zones vary. Big players can simply withdraw from the market or change their operation locations, while small and local business will have to rely on their limited resources to adapt to any changes caused by zero-emission zones.
Policy makers are likely aware that implementation of zero-emission zones requires participation of and engagement with the local community and the private sector
