A top German court on Tuesday ruled that cities can impose diesel driving bans to combat air pollution, in a landmark decision that could shake up the automobile industry and affect transport policies.
The decision was hailed as a resounding victory by the green group that sued two cities to try to get the ban.
However, Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks quickly responded to the decision: “The court has not issued any driving bans but created clarity about the law. Driving bans can be avoided, and my goal is and will remain that they do not come into force.”
Hendricks said there were other ways of cleaning up the air that didn’t involve banning old cars.
In their ruling, the judges at the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig found that local authorities have the right to enforce bans on older, dirty diesels from their city centres – plunging millions of drivers into uncertainty.
The court did not however impose such bans itself, leaving that up to city and municipal authorities. The judges did however urge them to “exercise proportionality” in enforcing the bans.
The case centred around the smog-clogged cities of Stuttgart and Düsseldorf, but could have nationwide repercussions.
