Nitrogen oxides emissions (NOx) in Germany plunged by 44% between 1995 and 2016.
Road traffic recorded the sharpest decline (-62%).
After the decision of the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, however, certain diesel vehicles can be banned from inner cities.
Apparently, there is a conflict of interests between the human right to clean ambient air and the protection of diesel car owners against an erosion of their vehicles‘ value.
In our view, this conflict could be resolved over time.
To this end, policymakers could, for instance, introduce a Blue Badge for low-emission diesel passenger cars, which is tied to a transitional period for older vehicles.
[ > Deutsche Bank Research — March 16 2018 ]
