The most polluting categories are 0, 1 and 3, including 7-8% of the vehicles so far. Now this circle has been extended with categories 2 and 4, thus one-third of the cars can be banned during stage of alert.

The modification of the regulation was brought about not only due to direct health-related reasons, but also to the fact that Budapest – first in Central and Eastern Europe – joined an international climate initiative, which was endorsed by 12 regions based on the idea of California and Baden-Württemberg.

The aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 and to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. The endorsement does not entail any financial obligations, but commitments. Modification of the smog regulation has been one of the facilitators.

In 2005, CO2 emission was 6 tons per capita per year in Budapest, which decreased to 5 tons per capita by 2013. The aim is to achieve 2 tons CO2-equivalent per capita by 2050.

Source: budapest.hu