Germany’s Merkel, Vulnerable on Diesel Emissions, Moves to Address Issue
In her opening statement on Monday, Ms. Merkel said her government rejected "general driving bans for any kind of motor or type of car, and therefore want to undertake everything possible to prevent them." At the same time, she pledged
that her government would double the size of a fund announced last month to help communities take steps to reduce urban pollution, bringing its total value to 1 billion euros, or $1.2 billion.
Officials in several German cities, including Munich, where BMW is based, have said they were considering
diesel bans, describing such measures as the fastest and easiest way to improve air quality.
On Monday, she met with the mayors of 30 German cities plagued by poor air quality, pledging
to double the amount of money earmarked for helping local governments fight air pollution.
In Stuttgart, the southern German home to Daimler and Porsche, legislation
that would prohibit diesel engines has been making its way through the courts, with one court already upholding such a ban as the only way to address the city’s dirty air.
Already, sales of diesel cars have been affected in Germany: Registration of new diesel cars fell
13.8 percent in August, according to figures released by Germany’s motor vehicle authority.
Merkel said that Time is running out,
Under pressure from citizens, whose health is affected by the heavy emissions,
and from European Union regulators, many German cities are considering banning diesel motors altogether.
