Urban Goods Movement and Air Quality Policy and Regulation Issues in European Cities

This article looks at the way urban goods movements are included in transport policies aimed at improving air quality in large European cities, particularly in France. The movement of goods in cities is a major contributor to local emissions caused by mobile sources. Trucks emit many pollutants (notably NOx and particulate matter) because they mostly use diesel and because there is a high proportion of old trucks and vans circulating in cities. As a result of this research, it seems that there are few policy innovations in freight issues in cities. Even more surprising is, in France, the low level of legal disputes over air quality standards attainment issues. Nonetheless, responding to public opinion's increasing concern over health issues and to European standards for urban air quality, some European cities have started to reserve access to city centres to new, 'clean' or 'fully loaded' trucks. By doing so, they have engaged in a more environmentally oriented urban freight strategy. The main conclusion of this article is that this new type of environmental regulation targeted on trucks is the best way available for cities wishing to improve their environment and air quality. Considering the current structure of the freight industry, other policy instruments such as negotiated agreements with freight professionals cannot be very useful except in a limited number of cities.