Low emission zone and inequalities: car restriction and reduction of air pollution exposure in the Paris region
Abstract
Over the past few decades, Low Emission Zones (LEZs) have emerged as a widely adopted tool for improving air quality accross Europe. However, the scientific literature devotes limited attention to the inequalities associated with their implementation. In addressing this gap, this article proposes to identify the residents least affected by reductions in air pollution and those most impacted due to ownership of non-compliant vehicles, focusing on the Paris region (France). By integrating data from the Enquête Globale Transport with data on spatio-temporal NO2 concentration levels, the methodological approach first evaluates the spatio-temporal exposure of surveyed individuals, considering their activities and transport modes. Thus, the objective is to study individual inequalities related to reduced exposure levels and non-compliant vehicle ownership. A series of logistic regressions model independently, and then subsequently jointly, estimate the likelihood of individual exposure levels falling below the WHO recommended threshold and the need to replace a non-compliant vehicle. The results reveal that the poorest residents are the most affected by restrictions on non-compliant vehicles, both in terms of exposure and ownership, and ultimately facing a double inequality. This inequality is less evident in the case of a more ambitious scenario.
Related
- Evaluating inter- and intra-regional air pollution inequalities in a decarbonized world
- Deep learning-based downscaling of PM2.5, NO2 and O3 over Europe across emission-reduction scenarios
- Characterizing human exposure to traffic-related air pollution through daily activities using an agent-based framework
- Exploring urban planning as a lever for emission and exposure control: Analysis of master plan actions over greater Paris
- Additionality of climate benefits from emission reduction and carbon dioxide removal
BibTeX
@article{poulhes2026emission,
title = {{Low emission zone and inequalities: car restriction and reduction of air pollution exposure in the Paris region}},
author = {Alexis Poulhès and Laurent Proulhac and Judith Malriat},
journal = {Sustainable Cities and Society},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.scs.2025.106469},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05082669v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Low emission zone and inequalities: car restriction and reduction of air pollution exposure in the Paris region
AU - Alexis Poulhès
AU - Laurent Proulhac
AU - Judith Malriat
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/03
JO - Sustainable Cities and Society
DO - 10.1016/j.scs.2025.106469
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05082669v1
AB - Over the past few decades, Low Emission Zones (LEZs) have emerged as a widely adopted tool for improving air quality accross Europe. However, the scientific literature devotes limited attention to the inequalities associated with their implementation. In addressing this gap, this article proposes to identify the residents least affected by reductions in air pollution and those most impacted due to ownership of non-compliant vehicles, focusing on the Paris region (France). By integrating data from the Enquête Globale Transport with data on spatio-temporal NO2 concentration levels, the methodological approach first evaluates the spatio-temporal exposure of surveyed individuals, considering their activities and transport modes. Thus, the objective is to study individual inequalities related to reduced exposure levels and non-compliant vehicle ownership. A series of logistic regressions model independently, and then subsequently jointly, estimate the likelihood of individual exposure levels falling below the WHO recommended threshold and the need to replace a non-compliant vehicle. The results reveal that the poorest residents are the most affected by restrictions on non-compliant vehicles, both in terms of exposure and ownership, and ultimately facing a double inequality. This inequality is less evident in the case of a more ambitious scenario.
SN - 2210-6707
ER -