Paris (AFP)

Paris, Grenoble and Strasbourg are the major cities most active in the fight against air pollution due to transport, according to a ranking established by several organizations, Montpellier, Nice and Marseille closing the march.

Greenpeace, the climate action network (RAC) and Unicef ​​France, the UN agency for child protection, have established this ranking published Tuesday of the 12 main cities of France by compiling policies on 17 points, divided into six "stakes" key ", each with a" coefficient "of importance: exit of polluting vehicles, reduction of the car's place, financial aid for the transition of modes of travel, development of the bicycle, development of public transport, specific measures for kids.

Result "there is no exemplary city," says Lorelei Limousin, RAC, but some are more efforts than others and rank "on track", the best category of the ranking, with Paris, Grenoble then Strasbourg.

Then, "still shy", Lyon, Nantes, Bordeaux and Lille tied, Rennes and Toulouse. Closing the march "late", come Montpellier, Nice and finally Marseille.

But none of the 12 can operate all the levers at once, even if Paris, Grenoble and Lyon have no theme "late".

A few months before the municipal elections, organizations hope to "challenge candidates" and "inform voters" on these issues, said Sarah Fayolle, transport campaigner at Greenpeace, even if there is no question of calling to vote for such and such list.

"Cities have the skills and lagging instead of accelerating the transition would be irresponsible" in the fight against global warming, said Lorelei Limousin.

France is also the subject of legal proceedings in the European Union for exceeding standards for air pollution, caused in particular by emissions from road transport.

On this point, "very few cities are moving towards a diesel outlet or assume the ambition of an exit from any car," said Sarah Fayolle.

Only the capital, whose policy on this point of the mayor Anne Hidalgo was very controversial, is thus noted "on the right track" on the two themes "exit polluting vehicles" and "reduction of the place of the car", Strasbourg being for the first and Grenoble for the second.

At the bottom of the ranking, the Marseille city gets a score "still shy" for the transition aids, ranking "late" for all other chapters.

In terms of comparison the Parisian case is "particular" recognize the authors, since skill levels vary depending on the subjects and the "Greater Paris Metropolis" has comparatively less power than other similar structures. It is therefore "communal and especially Parisian indicators" that have been observed.

© 2019 AFP