German Cities: Fighting Air Pollution With Innovative Policies

Germany has implemented a variety of policies to tackle air pollution, particularly in urban areas. The German government has been an international leader in climate change policy since the late 1980s, and has been setting ambitious goals and strategies to reduce air pollution. For example, Germany has introduced initiatives to increase the use of renewable energy sources, such as wind power, biomass, and hydropower, and has committed to phasing out coal for electricity generation. In addition, Germany has established programmes such as the Immediate Action Programme for Clean Air, which provided funding to towns and cities to combat air pollution by electrifying transportation and retrofitting diesel buses. German cities have also introduced low-emission zones to reduce the number of polluting vehicles on roads.

Electrifying transport

Germany's air pollution is largely caused by road traffic, with emissions from power stations, industrial processes, heating with fossil fuels, agriculture, and waste treatment also contributing. To tackle this, Germany has implemented various programs and measures, including the Immediate Action Programme for Clean Air, the National Climate Initiative, and the Climate Action Plan 2050, which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, electrify transportation, improve energy efficiency, and promote renewable energy sources.

The German government has provided around two billion euros to towns and cities to combat air pollution by electrifying transportation and retrofitting diesel buses. This includes the electrification of urban commercial transport and the encouragement of cycling through improved infrastructure. The City of Berlin, for example, has focused on electrifying its transport authority, increasing financial support for electric vehicles, and expanding its public transport sector to reduce individual passenger transport.

The transition to electro-mobility is an effective tool to tackle air pollution in urban areas, starting with the vehicles necessary for the everyday running of cities, such as taxis, buses, postal services, delivery trucks, and garbage trucks. Electrifying these vehicles can significantly reduce emissions and improve air quality, as seen in the case of New York, New Jersey, and Seattle, where electric vessels and trucks spurred a 69% reduction in PM2.5 emissions, avoiding 16 premature deaths per year.

Germany has also implemented 58 low-emission zones in over 70 cities, significantly reducing the number of older, polluting vehicles on the roads. In addition, Germany's circular economy and waste management policies have effectively reduced emissions from landfills by 75% compared to 1990 levels.

Incentivising renewable energy sources

Germany has been working to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by transitioning to renewable energy sources. The country's renewable energy use rate increased from 6.3% in 2000 to 34% in 2016, and renewable energy is now the cheapest and fastest-growing power source in Germany.

To incentivise the adoption of renewable energy sources, Germany has implemented several policies and initiatives:

Feed-in Tariffs

The German Renewable Energy Sources Act, or EEG (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz), introduced in 2000, provides a feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme to encourage the generation of renewable electricity. The EEG guarantees a grid connection, preferential dispatch, and a government-set feed-in tariff for 20 years, depending on the technology and size of the project. The scheme was initially funded by a surcharge on electricity consumers, but the renewables levy was scrapped in mid-2022 due to rising power prices.

Immediate Action Programme for Clean Air

From 2017 to 2020, Germany provided around two billion euros to towns and cities to combat air pollution by electrifying transportation and retrofitting diesel buses.

National Air Pollution Control Programme

In May 2019, Germany passed legislation mandating reductions in national emissions by 2030, including measures to reduce fine particulate matter and SLCP black carbon.

Low-Emission Zones

Germany has implemented 58 low-emission zones in over 70 cities, significantly reducing the number of older, polluting vehicles on the roads.

Incentives for Intelligent Operating Equipment

Germany is working to create proper incentives for intelligent operating equipment to substitute for conventional grid expansion.

Circular Economy and Waste Management Policies

Germany's circular economy and waste management policies have effectively reduced emissions from landfills. For example, landfilling untreated municipal solid waste was banned in 2005, and separate collection systems for different waste streams were implemented.

Climate and Clean Air Coalition

Germany joined the Climate and Clean Air Coalition in 2012, demonstrating its commitment to combating climate change and air pollution domestically and internationally.

Implementing low-emission zones

Germany has implemented 58 low-emission zones across over 70 cities, significantly reducing the number of older, polluting vehicles on the roads. The German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) compiles the data reported by federal states and municipalities on their low-emission zones, with individual municipalities responsible for data accuracy and up-to-dateness.

The implementation of low-emission zones typically involves restricting access to certain vehicles based on their environmental impact. For example, Berlin introduced an obligation to acquire an environmental badge for vehicles entering the city centre, with only vehicles marked with a green, yellow, or red badge allowed to enter the environmental zone from 2008. Over time, the restrictions were tightened, with only green-badged vehicles permitted from 2010 onwards. Munich implemented a similar scheme, requiring vehicles to display a green, yellow, or red badge to enter the environmental zone from October 2008.

The establishment of low-emission zones is part of Germany's broader strategy to tackle air pollution and combat climate change. Germany has demonstrated its commitment to these issues by joining the Climate and Clean Air Coalition in 2012 and setting ambitious goals, such as the German Climate Action Plan 2050, which outlines measures to meet greenhouse gas emissions targets by 2050.

In addition to low-emission zones, Germany has implemented various other strategies to improve air quality. These include the Immediate Action Programme for Clean Air (2017-2020), which provided funding to towns and cities to electrify transportation and retrofit diesel buses, and the national air pollution control programme (passed in May 2019), which introduced mandatory reductions in national emissions by 2030. Germany has also prioritised the transition to renewable energy sources, with a significant increase in renewable energy use from 6.3% in 2000 to 34% in 2016.

Improving waste management

Germany has been working to improve its waste management practices since the 1990s, with a particular focus on reducing methane and other greenhouse gas emissions. By 2015, Germany's circular economy and waste management policies had reduced emissions from landfills by 75% compared to 1990 levels, equivalent to a total reduction of 25 Mt CO2-eq.

• Diversion from Landfills: Germany has implemented policies to divert waste from landfills, such as banning the landfilling of untreated municipal solid waste in 2005. This helps to avoid methane formation in landfills, which is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Recycling and Waste Treatment: Recycling has been expanded, and the thermal or mechanical biological treatment of municipal solid waste has increased. Separate collection systems for different waste streams, such as packaging waste and biowaste, have been implemented.
• Landfill Gas Capture: The capture and use of landfill gas became obligatory in 1993, allowing for the capture of methane emissions and their use as a renewable energy source.
• Waste-to-Energy: Germany has introduced policies to increase the use of waste-to-energy technologies, such as capturing methane emissions from waste and using it as a replacement for more polluting fuels.
• Composting: Compost produced from organic waste can be used as a soil amendment, displacing synthetic fertilisers composed of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This helps to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers, which can have negative environmental impacts.
• Education and Incentives: German cities provide education, guidance, and incentives to businesses, cities, nonprofits, and communities to reduce air pollution. This includes promoting best practices, creating local ordinances, and providing assistance programs to help businesses comply with environmental rules and reduce wastes and emissions.
• International Cooperation: Germany has teamed up with governments in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to improve waste management practices and prevent waste from ending up in places that can pollute the air, such as open dumps and burning sites.

Promoting cycling

Germany has been working to improve its air quality over the years, and while it has made significant progress, there is still more to be done. The country has been an agenda-setter for international climate policy negotiations since the late 1980s, and its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy sources is notable.

One way German cities are tackling air pollution is by promoting cycling as a mode of transportation. Cycling is a well-recognized global travel mode that promotes environmental protection, energy savings, and physical health benefits. It helps reduce physical inactivity, which causes one million deaths per year in the European region, and it also plays a role in mitigating climate change and improving the environment.

To encourage cycling, German cities have implemented policies and infrastructure improvements. For example, the federal transport ministry introduced a new Road Traffic Act (StVO) in October 2024, which gives municipalities more autonomy to introduce cycling paths, 30 km/h zones, and residential parking fees. This change addresses the previous challenge where many towns and cities were prevented from introducing more measures due to federal regulations.

Additionally, German cities are investing in safe cycling infrastructure, following the example of cities like Beijing, which has implemented comprehensive policies to promote cycling. These include exclusive bicycle lanes, priority policies for cyclists, and bicycle-sharing schemes. The focus on safety is crucial, as addressing safety issues can enable a shift towards more active travel.

By promoting cycling and creating the necessary infrastructure, German cities are taking a proactive approach to tackling air pollution and creating a healthier and more sustainable environment for their residents.

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