Brussels considers more car-free days to reduce oil dependance
A monthly car-free day from 2023 is being discussed within the Brussels government to lessen dependence on oil, reported L’Echo. Mobility Minister Elke Van Den Brandt suggested that the days fall on Sundays in the Brussels-Capital Region.
The cost of oil is has soared as buyers have done their best to avoid purchasing from Russia, the world’s second-largest exporter. The price hikes come just as restrictions lift and people travel more after two years of the coronavirus epidemic.
The move has yet to be approved by President of the Brussels-Capital Region Rudi Vervoort. And even if Vervoort signs off on the proposal, the 19 mayors of Brussels would still need to be persuaded to support the measure, as traffic closures would be handled at a municipal level.
Lawmakers in Brussels have looked for a way to combat air pollution since 2019 when the Brussels Parliament first approved a resolution to implement car-free days.
At EU level, Member States are committed to reducing emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Yet the war in Ukraine may be the catalyst for change in Brussels.
© BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT: Illustration shows people enjoying the Car Free Sunday in the Brussels Capital region, Sunday 19 September 2021.