Paris and Madrid among cities to ban use of diesel cars by 2025
Leaders of four major cities have indicated they are ready to ban diesel vehicles by the year 2025, in an attempt to clean the air in many urban centres.
Mayors in Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens have said they will implement laws to stop people using such cars, in favour of alternative vehicles which use electric energy.
The C40 conference of mayors took place in Mexico this week, with city leaders from all over the globe converging to discuss matters which relate to urban spaces.
Fumes from vehicles are now considered to be a major contributor air pollution, which the World Health Organisation says leads to three million deaths per year.
"The quality of the air that we breathe in our cities is directly linked to tackling climate change," said mayor of the city of Madrid Manuela Carmena. "As we reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated in our cities, our air will become cleaner and our children, our grandparents and our neighbours will be healthier."
The initiative was led by mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, who praised those who have embraced the move towards cleaner air in cities.
"Mayors have already stood up to say that climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face," Hidalgo said. "Today, we also stand up to say we no longer tolerate air pollution and the health problems and deaths it causes, particularly for our most vulnerable citizens."
Further details on the agreement are scarce, such as whether diesel vehicles will be subject to a total ban, or whether they will be phased out from that point.