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For cities with deteriorating ecology, categorizing areas and labeling cars can somewhat minimize problems. The importance of this needs to be explained to people, and the government should simplify the procedure for obtaining stickers. Based on Germany's experience, it can be said that applying eco-stickers to keep cities clean is the most effective way, said Pascal Mast, Director of New Technologies and Sustainable Services at TÜV SÜD.
One example is Uzbekistan. In this country, cars are divided into "red," "yellow," and "green" categories based on their environmental impact. Similarly, urban areas are divided into three categories, restricting the entry of vehicles that cause significant environmental harm into certain zones.
The new regulations came into force on 1 June, following the government's decision of 29 March "on measures to reduce the negative impact of vehicles on the atmosphere". Since 2008, Germany has implemented the labelling system in several cities, bringing the total number of participating cities to 40.
Is this an effective solution for Tashkent, the main city of Uzbekistan, which is facing an ecological crisis? What measures should be taken to ensure a smooth transition to the new regulations?
Pascal Mast, Director of New Technologies and Sustainable Services at TÜV SÜD, recently visited the city and spoke with the local media Kun.uz.
P. Mast: Thank you for inviting me and for addressing this important issue. A few years ago, pollution levels in German cities were quite high. The concentration of pollutants, nitrogen oxides and other particles in the air was increasing. People began to ask what needed to be done to ensure clean air and a healthy environment in the city.
As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that there should be limits on air pollution, and this system was developed after considering the necessary actions.
P. Mast: We began implementing the system in stages in 2008. The labelling process started in the capital, Berlin. Then the areas were expanded to include more cities. Today, the number of cities with this system has reached 40. Every year, other city administrations ask themselves whether they need to implement this system.
In general, it takes some time, a couple of years. For our system, which started in 2008, it took a total of 4 years.
"If the system meets the requirements, I would also recommend not frequently changing the zone categories."
P. Mast: Of course, it is important to explain the cause of the problem and its urgency to the public. First, we identified the problem, saw that "yes, air pollution is high", informed people about it and then started to implement the system. Some may ask, can this reduce pollution to 0? Of course not. It won't make the air completely clean, but it can minimise it significantly. We had many discussions about this, and in the end we decided to implement the labelling system.
To explain how the system works, Europe has good experience. You register and have your car inspected. During this process, your car's pollutants and pollution levels are checked. Based on this, the emission level is rated from Euro 1 to Euro 6. Euro 1 means that your car is very old, while Euro 6 means that it is new. The type of sticker you receive will then determine whether you can drive your car in certain areas.
As for the scientific basis, this system is based on scientific research by the WHO. Once the pollution limits were set, we first started installing equipment to monitor air quality in cities. There were some gaps in the studies and some public objections. However, we were able to gradually implement environmentally friendly solutions and create healthy zones.
P. Mast: I think two points are very important in this process. First, identifying the reason and goal of this and conveying it to the public. Second, providing some time to implement the new system and adapt to it. It's never advisable to say that the innovation will be implemented tomorrow. People need time to get information and respond to the change.
"People need to understand that labelling vehicles can be beneficial for the city."
Of course, communication and procedures are important. You mentioned that the new system should be ready by 2026, which is exactly the time needed for people to get used to it.
P. Mast: I can share the German experience in this regard. At that time, our government saw the need to accelerate the purchase of new cars in the near future. Two systems were introduced. Firstly, if you buy a new car, you either get a certain amount of extra money or, alternatively, you pay a reduced tax on the car in the city. This led people to ask: why should I incur costs by driving alone, is this possible?
So our planned system worked, and people began to combine their ideas about whether they should drive alone or use buses, the underground or other convenient alternatives. In the end, the different combinations of systems proved to be effective.
P. Mast: We don't use cameras in our cities; when a car is parked, its sticker is checked by a traffic officer. The categories of the zones do not change often; they remain stable. People also know very well which areas are green or yellow and which sticker category allows you to drive there.
If it's considered necessary to use cameras, they should be developed very carefully and systematically. If the system meets the requirements, I would also recommend not frequently changing the zone categories.
"It's never advisable to say that the innovation will be implemented tomorrow. People need time to get information and respond to the change."
P. Mast: Sure, as I mentioned earlier, once a car is registered, inspected, and has the necessary sticker, information will indicate where it can move, i.e., in “red,” “yellow,” or “green” areas.
Suppose a driver enters an area with a car that has the wrong sticker. If the car is parked, the policeman will issue a fine. The current fine is 80 euros.
P. Mast: We have considered not only vehicles but also buses and subways. Of course, while imposing restrictions on people, additional solutions must be offered; otherwise, bigger problems could arise.
If a driver drives their car to a certain point and cannot enter a specific area, we recommend leaving the car there and using a bus, subway, or other transport for the remaining distance. I think this is a very good solution for systematically integrating multiple transport systems.
This is a good system because people see its effectiveness. “The air in my city is clean, everyone is happy about it. Fine, I will limit my car use in the city and use the bus or subway,” they might say. Usually, everyone is happy that their city is clean, healthy, and friendly.
P. Mast: Usually, tracking such online information about the zone category requires more action. This is not about the zone changing for a day or two but about driving only with the correct sticker if the zone is "yellow." If it becomes clear that the limit is being exceeded during the process, the question should be asked: what can we do? Then, efforts should be made to reduce the number of vehicles, and people should understand this.
P. Mast: It is important for people to obtain stickers, so the registration and sticker acquisition process should be simplified. Once they have the sticker showing the vehicle's emission level, it should be clear which areas they can enter or not. For example, if I use a vehicle with a red sticker and enter a green zone, I should know that I need to pay a fine when exiting the zone and do so consciously.
Once the new system is in place, people may have to give up their cars or use public transport. But they should know that this is the most effective way because the system is highly efficient. For example, before the system was introduced in major cities such as Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin, certain areas had high pollution levels for more than fifty days a year. After the sticker system was introduced, this number dropped to 1-2 or 3 days a year. As a result, our air pollution has been reduced to just a few days a year. It is enough to show people the difference between the 15 days of pollution years ago and the two or three days now.
Interviewed by Dilshoda Shomirzayeva.
Editor: Nuriddin Nursaidov
cc: kun.uz
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