Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are far from unanimous. An online consultation launched from 17 April to 14 May on the subject shows that 86% of individuals are against their deployment in agglomerations, as provided for by law. More than 51,300 citizens responded to the consultation, a "record" according to senators who report Thursday these results. 93% of respondents are individuals, the remaining 7% professionals.

"This 'success' testifies to the many concerns that this device generates among the French, even if it is a consultation based on the principle of volunteering and not a representative survey," explained during a press briefing the senator of Alpes-Maritimes Philippe Tabarot (LR), rapporteur of the control mission on EPZs which must deliver its conclusions mid-June.

Eleven cities already concerned

A generalization of areas that tend to fight air pollution is planned by 2025 in the 43 agglomerations of more than 150,000 inhabitants. To date, eleven metropolises, the first of which were Lyon, Grenoble and Paris, have their EPZs with different calendars.

In total, 86% of individuals and 79% of professionals who responded to the twenty questions asked by senators say they are opposed to the deployment of EPZs. "This is a technocratic measure that also creates a real break in equal access to the city center depending on whether you are wealthy or not," reads one of the testimonies.

Transport inequalities

Among the lessons identified by a data specialist, the farther a respondent lives from the center of the agglomeration, the more he tends to be unfavorable to EPZs. Only 8% of residents of rural municipalities are in favour, compared to 23% of inner-city residents. The availability of alternatives to the car also strongly influences the answers. Finally, feelings vary greatly according to the socio-professional category, with 25% of managers being in favour of EPZs compared to 11% of white-collar workers and 4% of blue-collar workers.

The first obstacle to the deployment of EPZs lies in the cost of acquiring clean vehicles, considered too high for 77% of individuals, given the insufficient accessibility of metropolises from peri-urban or rural areas (51%) and the lack of alternative transport offers (42%). Despite the threat of a fine, 83% of individuals do not plan to change their vehicle. "It is obvious that there is a desynchronization between the ZFE calendar and the progress of alternatives to the car, and the idea is to say that we must synchronize the acceleration of accompanying measures," commented Philippe Tabarot.

  • Planet
  • Air pollution
  • Pollution
  • Low Emission Zone (LEZ)