City logistics: from zero emission to zero impact

So far, city logistics has played a limited role in improving air quality in cities. The focus on clean vehicles has been positive for air quality. But shouldn’t we really be talking about economically sound, vital and healthy city centers and neighborhoods when developing urban freight policies? Today, “zero impact” city logistics should be the focal point.

Air quality in cities is unhealthy. The air in cities contains many different substances, both particulate matter and gases. Among other things, the particles released during combustion in diesel engines are a threat to our health. That is why our air quality is subject to European standards.

Amsterdam’s coughing corridors
The concentrations of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide regularly exceed those standards. Friends of the Earth has labeled my street in Amsterdam a “coughing corridor”. But the situation in Rotterdam and in many other European cities like Paris and London is just as bad. And even where the European standards are met, the air is hardly healthy. Both friends and foes can agree on that.

The role of city logistics in improving air quality
In the Amsterdam metropolitan region, 35% of nitrogen-dioxide emissions and 10% of the particulate matter come from road traffic. The transport of goods is responsible for 20 to 25% of that. It’s safe to say that city logistics has already made a significant contribution towards cleaner air in the cities. The heavier Euro 5 and Euro 6 trucks…