Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Brussel’AIR is protesting against the MR, PS, and Les Engagés parties’ plan to delay Brussels” Low Emission Zone rules from 2025 to 2027, worried it will harm air quality and people’s health.
Brussel’AIR, a group of citizens, is reacting to a plan from the French-speaking coalition in Brussels, which includes the MR, PS, and Les Engagés parties. These parties want to delay the next step of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Brussels, which aims to lower air pollution. They are suggesting to push back the stricter emission rules by two years, so instead of starting in 2025, they would now begin in January 2027.
Will the delay of Brussels’ low emission zone impact public health?
It has been said that the event was meant to warn everyone about the bad air quality, which many believe is harming people’s health. A coffin was used to show how serious the problem is, and the goal was to push local leaders to act faster to improve the air in Brussels. This protest is in response to a plan by some French-speaking parties that want to delay the new Low Emission Zone rules by two years, arguing that the current timeline is too quick for people and businesses to manage.
This proposal has faced a lot of criticism, especially from the environmental party Groen, which is very concerned about the issue. Groen and other environmental supporters say that delaying the LEZ expansion could make the health problems caused by air pollution in Brussels even worse. The discussion about the delay shows the conflict between different political groups, with Brussel’AIR’s funeral demonstration highlighting the urgent need to take action to improve air quality and protect the health of people living in the city.
The citizens’ group wants to stay out of politics. Benjamin says they are just regular people worried about bad air quality and that if there weren’t elections soon, the Low Emission Zone wouldn’t be delayed. Myriam adds that the old government talked about these new rules four years ago, and many people sold their old cars to get ready. Now, a few parties want to push the rules back right before they start, and she thinks it’s just a way to win votes for the elections.
