The French Constitutional Council has blocked a bill abolishing the low-emission zones in France's towns and cities, which are designed to limit vehicle pollution.
The proposal to abolish low-emission zones, or zones à faibles émissions (ZFEs), was introduced through amendments submitted by right-wing and far-right lawmakers to a bill aimed at “simplifying" French laws.
It was passed in parliament in April, but the bill was immediately referred to the Conseil Constitutionnel, France's highest authority on constitutional matters and new laws.
On Thursday, the Council ruled against the ZFE section of the bill, meaning that the low emission zones - enforced via the Crit'Air sticker system - will remain in place.
Introduced in France in 2019, these low-emission zones are designed to limit the flow of fine particulate emissions that can cause respiratory diseases and premature deaths by restricting certain vehicles from entering designated areas.
