Air quality in Germany is better – a lot of cities but more over limit

Less particulate matter and fewer nitrogen dioxide: The levels of air pollutants, among other things, by the car traffic has improved in the last year in Germany. The Federal environment Minister, Svenja Schulze (SPD), described the current readings on Tuesday as “pleasing”. According to the economic bans lose in importance – environmentalists warn, however, that there is still no clear.

According to information from the German Federal environment Agency (UBA) fell the burden of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in 2019 in Germany. The limit value of 40 micrograms of NO2 per cubic meter of air was exceeded in 2019, an annual average of only around 20 percent of the measuring stations close to traffic, in the previous year was at 42 percent of the measurement sites.

This show, "environmental policy wirkt", UBA President Dirk Messner said. The Federal government, the Länder and the local authorities that have invested a lot for better air, could see the success now to the lower measurement values.

29 cities of more than limit value

A number of German cities, however, is still above the limit. Currently there are 19, if all of the data to be evaluated, could increase the number to 25 to 30 cities, said Messner.

The main source of nitrogen oxides in cities is road traffic emissions-especially emissions of Diesel passenger Cars is the German Federal environment Agency, according to. The problem is the gases, especially for sensitive or damaged people such as asthmatics and the Elderly. Nitrogen oxides cause irritation to mucous membranes in the respiratory tract and the lungs.

The highest Exceedance in Munich

The highest limit value is Exceeded, it gave the date according to available data, in Munich, Germany. There are 63 micro-were measured in grams of NO2 per cubic meter of air, annual average. Behind Stuttgart with 53 micrograms of Kiel, Germany, with 49 micrograms, Berlin, Hamburg (48) and Heilbronn (47). For Stuttgart, it was recorded the largest decline: in 2018, the year, mean there is still at 71 micrograms of located.

For 2019, a total of a decrease in the mean NO2-concentrations was recorded, according to data from UBA-President Messner is the result of several factors. He called "local Maßnahmen" such as speed limits, driving bans, or the use of less polluting buses, but also Software Updates, as well as the renewal of the vehicle fleet and the effects of the weather.

Discharge "still not ausreichend"

The fine dust, the UBA recorded for 2019, the lowest load since the beginning of the measurements at the end of the 90s. This is in the sense of health protection, however, "unfortunately, not ausreichend", Messner explained – followed by the world health organization (WHO) recommended, significantly lower limits should be.

The German chambers of industry and Commerce (DIHK) welcomed the new Figures on air quality "better than erwartet" be failed. "Driving bans lose luckily importance, the limits can werden&quot by more sustainable means below;, the Deputy managing Director Achim Dercks said. Now the cities on the pressing tasks for a &quot could;sustainable Mobilitätswende" focus – for example, through the use of digital traffic management, better public TRANSPORT and alternative drives.

Too long in the car-orientated city detained

The German Association of towns and municipalities also responded with relief. "Now, it is evident that in many municipalities introduced measures for the reduction of Pollutants beginnen&quot act to;, managing Director Gerd Landsberg, the &quot said;Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung". At the same time, he criticized: "For too long we have had in Germany in the General consensus of the car-oriented city as a destination."

Union group Vice-Georg Nüßlein (CSU), said that the "pleasing Trend" in the case of the air quality, confirm the way of his group: "Targeted retrofitting of vehicles, a meaningful state support of innovative transport systems and investment in public transport – and no General driving bans, with which the citizens are bullied and the damage to the economy."

Load is still too high

FDP parliamentary group Deputy Frank Sitta called for in the light of the new Figures, "Driving bans and the Bürger" would have to be terminated and the "cold expropriation of the Dieselfahrer" be undone.

The ecologically-oriented transport club of Germany warned on the other hand, the load is still too high. The Federation for environment and nature conservation Germany described the air quality as "serious Problem". The German environmental aid Association demanded binding Hardware retrofits for all Diesel vehicles with emission level Euro 5 and 6.

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