Agglomerations of more than 150,000 inhabitants will not be obliged to set up low emission zones (ZFE or ZFEm) under certain conditions specified in a decree published on Saturday in the Official Journal.

The generalization of these zones is provided for by law in these 43 agglomerations in metropolitan France as of December 31, 2024, but derogations were provided for and are thus formalized in a text.



The obligation to set up an EPZ is waived when it is demonstrated “that the average annual concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are less than or equal to 10?

g/m3”, specifies the decree signed in particular by Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne.

This level corresponds to the World Health Organization (WHO) thresholds, which are more stringent than the current European limit values.

“It is difficult to know which are the agglomerations which in 2025 will respect the thresholds of the WHO”, one indicates to the ministry of the ecological Transition and the cohesion of the territories.

“But it is of the order of a few agglomerations, less than ten a priori, which should benefit from this derogation”, explained this source to AFP.

Alternative measures

Agglomerations can also be exempted from the ZFE if they propose alternative measures with equivalent effect.

They must demonstrate no later than eighteen months before the deadline for the introduction obligation that the actions implemented make it possible to reach the concentration limits for nitrogen dioxide "in shorter periods or similar to those proceeding from the establishment of a low-emission mobility zone,” the decree states.

“The establishment of ZFEs will only be compulsory when it is really necessary”, we comment to the ministry.

"This derogation does not dilute anything in terms of public health" because "it does not lower the level of ambition vis-à-vis air pollution", insists this source.

ZFEs already concern 11 French cities, the first of which were Lyon, Grenoble and Paris.

They aim to gradually ban the most polluting vehicles.

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  • Company

  • Low Emission Zone (ZFE)

  • Agglomeration

  • Decree

  • Elisabeth Borne