Low Emission Zones in Europe
Europe-wide information on LEZ s
Low Emission
Zones
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Your source of information about Low Emission Zones and how they affect you when you drive in Europe.
Click on the map, use the tabs at the top to find Cities A-Z or by Country, the Standards you must meet in them in the near future, how to comply, and retrofitting details.
Alternatively use the left hand menu to find out about LEZs, get details of emissions standards, a list by start date of all City LEZ schemes and the standards required, or find out how you can comply with the LEZs.
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Why LEZs? - Health!
In short, pollution kills.
LEZs are implemented in areas where air pollution is at levels that are dangerous to health in order to improve the air quality to make it safer to breathe.
Air pollution is responsible for 310 000 premature deaths in Europe each yeari, more than caused by road accidentsii. Air pollution particularly affects the very young and the old and those with heart and lung diseases - both common causes of death in Europe. It also triggers health problems like asthma attacks and increases hospital admissions and days off sick.
The human health damage that air pollution causes is estimated to cost the European economy between €427 and €790 billion per yeariii.
Another way of looking at this is the impact on life expectancy [how long people can expect, on average, to live]. The following map shows an estimation of the numbers of months life expectancy is reduced by man-made fine particles (these are often called PM10 or PM2.5, see our air pollution page for more explanation).
 map source: EU Cafe program
Because of this danger to health, many countries around the world, as well as the European Union (EU), have set air quality standards to be met by set dates. It is in order to help meet these standards that LEZs are being implemented.
Our next page, air quality and health has more details on this.
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