Poland’s Kraków plans restrictions on car traffic to fight smog

The city is the first in Poland to unveil such plans. City Hall wants to bring in restrictions on days when a third- (or highest-) degree air pollution alert has been issued.

The restrictions would cover the historic city’s Old Town and Podgórze districts.

Last year, a third-degree smog alert was issued once in Kraków, at the end of January and start of February.

According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), out of the 50 European cities most affected by smog, 33 are in Poland. The WHO estimates that around 50,000 Poles die every year due to illness caused by air pollution.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki declared in December that tackling air pollution would be one of his government’s priorities.

Morawiecki also announced that the 33 most affected cities would each gain their own dedicated programme aimed at reducing the impact of smog.

The southern Polish city of Katowice has started testing a drone to pinpoint offenders who break anti-smog rules.

(pk/gs)

Source: IAR