Merkel aims to change law to prevent diesel driving bans

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, campaigning for her party ahead of the regional elections in the federal state of Hesse, said her government aims to amend existing legislation to prevent diesel driving bans in cities where nitrogen oxide limits are only slightly exceeded. “We believe that driving bans are generally not proportionate when limits are exceeded only marginally,” Merkel said at a press conference in Berlin, held to support the Hesse branch of her Christian Democratic Party (CDU). “We want to change the federal immissions law.” Under the amended legislation, driving bans could only be seen as a proportionate measure to ensure clean air in cities where 50 micrograms nitrogen oxide per cubic metre is exceeded, said Merkel. This could prevent driving bans in 51 German cities, including Berlin and Frankfurt. In 14 other cities that exceed limits, more needs to be done, including software and hardware retrofits for diesel vehicles, said Merkel. The CDU has published a position paper on the issue.

Find the press conference video in German here, the CDU position paper in German here, and a Reuters article in English here.

Read the article Fresh Green upset in Hesse state election may derail Merkel government and the factsheet Diesel driving bans in Germany – The Q&A.