site.btaSofia Mayor Proposes Year-Round Operation of Low-Emission Zone

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev told reporters on Tuesday that it will be proposed to make Sofia's low-emission zone operational all year round, although the introduction of the measure depends on the support of the Sofia City Council and the preparation of accompanying measures for residents. 

He was speaking at the opening of the international conference "Beyond the Smoke: Building Support for Clean Heating Measures in Europe". The forum is organized by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) in partnership with the Clean Air Fund and is the central event of Sofia Clean Air Week.

Terziev said the low-emission zone had produced positive results even during the few months it has been in operation, and added that its year-round implementation would lead to better outcomes. The municipality is working on a comprehensive proposal that takes into account the experience of other cities and data for Sofia, he said.

Asked whether the measure would disproportionately affect people who cannot afford newer cars, the Mayor said programmes to provide financial assistance for replacing vehicles were being discussed. Terziev said amendments to the ordinance must be accompanied by measures that take into account the circumstances of socially vulnerable residents. He added that similar measures initially faced resistance in other cities as well, but were subsequently viewed positively.

Currently, Sofia's low-emission zone operates from the beginning of December until the end of February and is divided into two rings covering different areas of the city.

The Mayor did not specify a deadline for submitting the proposal. He said the expansion of the low-emission zone should take place gradually, noting that the existing ordinance already sets out steps for expanding its geographical coverage and tightening vehicle requirements.

During the conference, Terziev signed a memorandum of understanding with Breathe Cities' Executive Director Cecilia Vaca Jones, that concerns the collection and use of data to assess the results of the low-emission zone. The document also includes a commitment to work towards expanding the zone and making it operational year-round. 

Jones said that this was her first visit to Sofia and that she wanted to learn more about the city's work. She emphasized that the impact of air pollution on health has been known for decades, and that taking action requires political courage and leadership that engages citizens and partners. Jones noted that sharing and analyzing the achievements of different cities enables them to learn from one another and to draw on this experience when developing their own solutions for clean air.

Terziev also highlighted the programme announced on Monday to provide more than 11,000 households with free replacements for their heating appliances. He said the programme was important in view of the ban on the use of solid fuels for heating throughout the city, which will take effect on January 1, 2029.

The Mayor pointed to the link between air pollution and a range of diseases, saying that improving the quality and length of life of Sofia residents was a key objective of these policies. He said that tangible progress had been made in recent years, but it was still insufficient.