Dutch MPs vote to end urban limits on old diesel vehicles

A majority of the Tweede Kamer, lower house of parliament, voted for the VVD proposal to remove environmental zones banning old diesel cars from cities. According to the VVD, these zones are useless and expensive, ANP reports. Utrecht is one of many cities around the world to implement an environmental zone banning polluting cars from the city center. Utrecht and environmental organization Milieudefensie believe that the environmental zone reduces carbon emissions by 30 percent annually. Milieudefensie called the decision unbelievable. "Environmental zones keep highly polluting cars out of the city. In Germany, among others, this lead to a much improved air quality in cities. Air pollution annually causes thousands of chronic illnesses and premature deaths", Anne Knol of the organization said to NU.