The French Senate has voted to abolish low vehicle-emissions zones (Zones à Faibles Émissions – ZFE), marking a significant reversal of a flagship green policy from President Emmanuel Macron’s first term.
Yesterday, senators confirmed the decision taken the previous day by the National Assembly as part of a wider “simplification of economic life” bill.
The measure, which passed with broad support from the Right, will remove restrictions on older, more polluting vehicles in around 25 urban areas, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other major cities.
The ZFE system, introduced in 2017–2019 and progressively tightened, required vehicles to display colour-coded stickers according to their emissions level.
It gradually banned the most polluting categories (3, 4, 5 and non-classified) from city centres, forcing many owners of older diesel and petrol cars to upgrade or face fines.
Critics argued the policy disproportionately penalised lower-income households unable to afford newer, more expensive vehicles, while delivering limited environmental gains at high economic cost.
The policy faced widespread criticism for its inconsistent implementation and limited effectiveness.
Enforcement varied sharply between cities, with some such as Paris and Lyon applying the restrictions relatively strictly. Many other municipalities installed signs but issued almost no fines because automated cameras were never widely deployed and local police resources were insufficient.
Deadlines for banning older vehicles were repeatedly postponed, and temporary exemptions or day-passes further undermined the system’s coherence.
According to Le Monde today, the decision now allows nearly 3 million of the most polluting vehicles back on the road.
The repeal has been welcomed by motorists’ groups and right-wing politicians who described the zones as “punitive ecology” and a form of “social segregation”.
Environmental organisations and left-leaning parties have strongly criticised the move, warning it will worsen air quality in cities and undermine France’s climate commitments.
Some MPs have already announced they will refer the text to the Constitutional Council.
The government had attempted to offer a compromise allowing local authorities flexibility but this was rejected.
Once promulgated, the abolition of the ZFE system and the associated Crit’Air restrictions is expected to take effect in the coming months, subject to any legal challenges.
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is asking the European Union to lower its car CO₂ reduction targets when legislation is reviewed later this year.
Only three EU nations – the Netherlands, France and Germany – feature among the world’s 10 most EV-ready… pic.twitter.com/lMdwqqVDO3
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