The Environmental Zone in Copenhagen/Frederiksberg

The majority of Copenhagen and all of Frederiksberg has been an Environmental Zone as of 1 September 2008 - more specifically the area bordered by the streets Ring 2 and Vejlands Allé, which is where most people live and walk about and where the impact will be the greatest.

Posted signs indicate when you are in the Environmental Zone.

As of 1 November 2009, the Environmental Zone will be extended to the municipal boundary of Copenhagen. Click here to see a detailed map of the Environmental Zone with the extension 1 November 2009 marked in red.

The Environmental Zone sticker and particle filter
All Danish diesel-fuelled vehicles over 3½ tons that enter the Environmental Zone must be inspected and have an Environmental Zone sticker on the front windscreen.

Diesel-fuelled vehicles that meet the EURO 3 or 4 standards can be inspected immediately for driving in the Environmental Zone. Older diesel-fuelled vehicles must have an approved particle filter installed.

Foreign vehicles must meet the particle filter requirement, but they do not have to have an Environmental Zone sticker.

Read more about the Road Safety and Transport Agency's particle filter requirements here.

Control
The Police, Copenhagen Parking (Parkering København) and Frederiksberg Parking (Parkering Frederiksberg) will inspect heavy diesel-fuelled vehicles in the Environmental Zone. Responsibility for violating the rules rests with the carrier (owner of the vehicle).

Background
Particle pollution is the biggest air pollution problem in Copenhagen and Frederiksberg.

The tiniest particles - also called ultra fine particles - are the cause of early death and exacerbate respiratory and circulatory diseases especially.

Lorries and other heavy diesel-fuelled vehicles over 3½ tons are accountable for approx. 50 percent of all harmful pollution, which is why the municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg are introducing an Environmental Zone that requires particle filters for heavy diesel-fuelled vehicles. Particle filters trap approx. 80 percent of the particles emitted from a diesel engine.

In Copenhagen and Frederiksberg, particle pollution results in almost 500 early deaths annually. The Environmental Zone will make it healthier to live in the city.

The Environmental Zone sets requirements on the levels of pollution containing particles that are harmful to health lorries and busses in the Environmental Zone are allowed to emit. The requirements will be tightened in two phases, once on 1 September 2008 and again on 1 July 2010.

Annually, the health benefits after 1 July 2010 are expected to result in approx.:

• 150 fewer early deaths
• 150 fewer hospital admissions for respiratory and circulatory diseases
• 750 fewer cases of bronchitis
• 8,000 fewer cases of asthma
• 90,000 fewer days with limited activity due to respiratory illnesses

The Environmental Zone covers all of Frederiksberg and the central half of Copenhagen, where 65 percent of all of the city's inhabitants live. People living outside the Environmental Zone will also benefit environmentally because traffic will move across the zone boundaries.

Environmental Zone map
Click here to take a closer look at the Environmental Zone. The extension 1 November is marked in red.

Contact
If you have any questions regarding the Environmental Zone, you can contact any of the following:

Copenhagen Municipality
Traffic Centre
Telephone +45 33 66 37 59
E-mail

Frederiksberg Municipality
Technical Directorate
Telephone +45 38 21 41 00
E-mail

Danish Environmental Protection Agency
Telephone +45 72 54 44 77
E-mail

Road Safety and Transport Agency
Telephone +45 33 92 91 44
E-mail