Zero Emission Zones with Arjan Oranje
Could designating city areas carbon emission free zones be key to the decarbonisation of urban mobility? In this episode, we talk to Arjan Oranje, Rotterdam's program manager for zero emission mobility, about the Netherlands' approach to mobility decarbonisation and how they're collaborating with a variety of stakeholders to make emission free zones reality. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/zero-emission-zones-with-rotterdams-arjan-oranje/
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Show Notes
What are zero-emission zones?
A zero-emission zone (ZEZ) is a designated area where only zero-emission vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists are permitted unrestricted access. Other vehicles are not permitted entrance, or must pay a fee to enter. Some ZEZs permit hybrid electric vehicles to enter, and these zones are referred to as “near-ZEZs”. Due to freight transportation’s outsize impact on carbon emissions, several cities have chosen to establish zero-emission zones exclusively focused on freight transport.
Several dozen cities around the world, most of them in Europe, have implemented or announced plans to establish zero-emission zones. The United States is yet to implement a ZEZ. Global ZEZ development occurs in the context of a rapid increase in electric vehicles on city streets. Increased electric vehicle sales enable the establishment of ZEZs, which, in turn, incentivize electric vehicle ownership.
How to establish a ZEZ? What are some possible obstacles to establishing zero-emission zones?
| Legal/Political | Lack of political acceptance due to fears of public reactions | Bureaucratic/slow decision making | Privacy concerns regarding street sensors and cameras, enabling occupancy control and street charging |
| Financial | Needs large-scale investment in EVs and EV infrastructure | Incremental long-term vs immediate short term improvement impacts budget considerations | How to account for a wide range of stakeholders with competing financial interests |
| Technological | Putting in sensors and street cameras at scale | Creating convenient apps and platforms | Open-source data and data platforms (ie data on traffic flow) |
| Other | Support from local communities | What happens to those that cannot afford electric vehicles? | How to scale up, ie from a single street to an entire section of a city |
Who is Arjan Oranje?
Arjan Oranje is program manager for zero emission mobility in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Starting in 2025, Rotterdam is designating its city center as a zero-emissions zone.
Learn More
How C40 cities are implementing zero emission areas
Zero emissions areas: Why aren’t they everywhere? | World Economic Forum
Can low emissions zones effectively regulate traffic in cities? | Automotive World
For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/zero-emission-zones-with-rotterdams-arjan-oranje/