Rome adopts air pollution reduction measures incentivising electric vehicles and public transport

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Rome has introduced measures aimed at curbing air pollution under the “Green Belt” umbrella. Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri pointed out “we are carrying out an important part of our programme, which protects the health of Romans, reduces pollution and emissions and makes our city more liveable, in compliance with EU standards.”

He noted that new measures encourage the use of public transport and purchase of electric vehicles, stressing that local authorities have to support the green transition.

New measures include incentives to replace non-electric vehicles with electric ones as well as free access to public transport in exchange for scrapping vehicles with internal combustion engines.

Rome is to spend EUR 3 million on the plan this year, followed by 5 million in 2023 and 2024 each.

“In the coming months, we will accelerate this ambitious project even further to make Rome more connected and create increasingly valid alternatives to private transport, to the benefit of everyone’s quality of life,” Gualtieri concluded.

Councillor for mobility Eugenio Patanè added that, besides improving quality of life, the project will lower traffic congestion and protect the health of Romans and the environment.

He stressed that the administration is obligated to accompany environmental measures with those aimed at supporting citizens, which is why the package of measures includes incentives to switch to electric vehicles and increase the use of public transport.

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