italy in car clampdown as freak weather creates killer pollution
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Italy in car clampdown as freak weather creates killer pollution

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Italy in car clampdown as freak weather creates killer pollution

Traffic restrictions were introduced in several Italian cities after pollution levels shot up
Rome - AFP

Cars were partially banished from the streets of Milan and Rome on Monday as Italy battled a buildup of health-threatening pollution caused by freakishly dry and warm winter weather.

As a row erupted over the efficacy of the measures, Milan and the nearby town of Pavia banned cars from their roads between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm for three days starting Monday.

In Rome, owners of cars with odd-numbered plates were ordered to leave them at home for the day. On Tuesday, cars with even-numbered plates will be targeted under a measure used three times this month with limited effect.

Traffic restrictions were also in place in the southern city of Naples, where only vehicles operating to an emissions standard known as Euro 4 are allowed to circulate this week.

With many Italians on holiday between Christmas and New Year, the measures were seen as largely symbolic and the authorities have been attacked for backing them up with only limited enforcement measures.

Air pollution contributed to 84,400 premature deaths in Italy in 2012, according to the latest report for the European Environment Agency. Of these 59,500 were attributed to elevated levels of fine dust particles in the air, the problem which has caused this week's alerts.
"This morning, the streets were deserted but it's not only because of the driving ban. Am I the only person working this Monday?" one Milan resident wrote on Twitter.

After several weeks with little or no rain in much of Italy and weather balmy enough to have sent many Romans to the beach for their Christmas lunches, pollution levels measured by the number of fine dust particles in the air have shot up.

Numerous locations have exceeded the 50 mg per cubic metre level which the World Health Organization regards as a ceiling which should not be exceeded in the interests of the general wellbeing of urban populations.

- Limited impact -

A figure of 102mg/m3 was registered in Milan, which breached the WHO threshold for the 32nd day in a row and its 97th since the start of 2015.

The traffic ban "is a response to an exceptional emergency," the city's mayor Giuliano Pisapia said. "The measure does not bring the city to a standstill but it does have a strong deterrent effect."

Milan is seeking to address its pollution problem by expanding car sharing, a municipal bicycle scheme and its underground rail network, with work now under way on a fifth line in a city which, with its suburbs included, is home to more than eight million people.
Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti has called an emergency meeting of regional and municipal leaders for Wednesday to discuss coordinating anti-pollution measures.

The alternate days car ban in Rome is aimed at cutting traffic volume by only 20 percent and research has suggested even this limited target is rarely achieved. The mayor's office vowed Monday to step up enforcement with 150 police patrols delegated to check for drivers ignoring the ban.

Consumer group Codacons said the key to beating pollution was providing residents with alternatives to the car.

"If Rome had an artery system (of public transport) comparable to other European capitals, the number of cars in circulation would automatically be reduced all year round," it said.

Rome has only two metro lines and potential expansion of the underground network is limited by the archaeological riches buried beneath the city. In recent years the capital has been repeatedly gripped by financial crises which have led to cutbacks on bus services.

Relief from the smog is at hand but not from any government measure: cool winds forecast for the end of the week are expected to cut the volume of particles in the air.

 

almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

italy in car clampdown as freak weather creates killer pollution italy in car clampdown as freak weather creates killer pollution

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

italy in car clampdown as freak weather creates killer pollution italy in car clampdown as freak weather creates killer pollution

 



Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:22 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 11:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Modern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 10:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 21:00 2011 Thursday ,29 September

Al Jaber to agree debt deal by year-end

GMT 05:50 2012 Saturday ,05 May

French patisserie with delightful structure

GMT 01:56 2012 Friday ,06 April

Sheraton Hotels to boost spa offering

GMT 08:51 2012 Thursday ,26 April

Arab women still unrecognised

GMT 07:08 2011 Thursday ,22 September

Hotel Shilla sets up first free shop in Macau

GMT 08:52 2018 Friday ,12 January

Film legend Delon says he's ready to die

GMT 14:48 2017 Sunday ,31 December

UAE cancels Tunisia handball games amid row

GMT 18:49 2017 Tuesday ,31 October

Celtics snap NBA losing streak to injury-hit Spurs

GMT 12:54 2011 Monday ,26 December

Anti-bullying program launched by Tulsa schools

GMT 15:07 2012 Wednesday ,07 November

Oriflame to launch Sparkle in Paris collection

GMT 07:31 2017 Friday ,20 October

Tillerson heads to Gulf, downbeat

GMT 18:23 2017 Wednesday ,19 July

Chile moves to ease strict abortion laws
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
 
 Almaghrib Today Facebook,almaghrib today facebook  Almaghrib Today Twitter,almaghrib today twitter Almaghrib Today Rss,almaghrib today rss  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

.almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday almaghribtoday almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday