Race unresolved at this juncture
Düsseldorf, Germany, is witnessing a significant improvement in air quality, particularly in terms of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution. According to the Environmental Agency, it is expected that the limits will be largely complied with by the end of the year for Merowingerstraße, though it may barely exceed the limit.
This positive development is a result of various factors, including the renewal of the bus fleet by Rheinbahn, the introduction of environmental lanes, the expansion of the cycling network, the enhancement of Rheinbahn's offer, and the promotion of electromobility. The Mayor, Thomas Geisel, has emphasised that this is a success for the health protection of Düsseldorf's residents.
The measures taken to contain the Corona pandemic, particularly by reducing traffic volumes and car traffic, have also contributed to the good result in the first half of the year. Many employers and employees have gained good experience with mobile work and home office solutions and are expected to continue enabling such forms of work after the pandemic.
The evaluation for the first half of 2020 is based on preliminary, not yet finally validated measurement values. All other monitoring stations and points in Düsseldorf are complying with the nitrogen dioxide limit, according to the city. However, the exceeding site, Merowingerstraße, does not have an established environmental lane.
The reduction potential for nitrogen dioxide on Prinz-Georg-Straße due to environmental lanes is up to 2 μg/m3, and up to 4 μg/m3 on Merowingerstraße. The exact share of environmental lanes in the positive result of the first half of 2020 cannot be determined, but their effectiveness has been confirmed by expert opinion.
The Mayor states that Düsseldorf is on a very good path towards its goal of improving air quality, but will not rest on the positive values of the first half of 2020. The North Rhine-Westphalia State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection, as well as measurement points set up by the state capital Düsseldorf, were used in the evaluation.
Cycling, buses, and trains will continue to be promoted in Düsseldorf. The city aims to maintain the switch to the bicycle, which has been maintained in the long term and permanently, as new cyclists have learned to appreciate this form of urban mobility. The Mayor expects that the positive effect will be maintained in the long term and that Düsseldorf will continue to drive forward projects set out in the air cleanliness plan.
- The improvement in air quality in Düsseldorf, particularly the reduction of nitrogen dioxide pollution, is attributed to several factors such as the renewal of the bus fleet, introduction of environmental lanes, expansion of the cycling network, and the promotion of electromobility, among others.
- The reduction potential for nitrogen dioxide on Merowingerstraße, where the limits are barely exceeded, is up to 4 μg/m3 due to environmental lanes. This effectiveness has been confirmed by expert opinion.
- The Mayor has emphasized that the success in improving health protection for Düsseldorf's residents is not only due to the air quality improvement but also from the measures taken to contain the Corona pandemic, which reduced traffic volumes and car traffic.
- The finance, transportation, science, health-and-wellness, climate-change, industry, and environmental-science sectors all play a crucial role in Düsseldorf's commitment to maintaining the positive air quality values and driving forward projects set out in the air cleanliness plan, with the backing of state agencies and city-established measurement points.
