Munich Considers Stricter Diesel Restrictions Despite Improved Air Quality

For the first time, air pollution on Munich's Landshuter Allee fell below legal limits, but debates over expanded diesel bans continue.

Air quality on Munich's Landshuter Allee, previously known as Germany's most polluted street, has improved, with nitrogen dioxide levels dropping below the EU limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter for the first time in 2024.
The improvement has been attributed to measures like a diesel ban for Euro-4 vehicles and the introduction of a Tempo-30 zone on the affected stretch of the Mittlerer Ring.
Despite this progress, Munich's city council recently approved a plan to extend the diesel ban to Euro-5 vehicles, under legal pressure from environmental groups and court rulings.
Critics warn that stricter bans could push traffic onto residential side streets, potentially increasing pollution in those areas and disproportionately affecting lower-income residents without access to cleaner vehicles.
The final decision on the Euro-5 diesel ban will depend on further air quality analyses, expected in the second quarter of 2025, with some officials hoping the ban can still be avoided.