The city of Stuttgart in Germany is being told to update its air quality plans to include a ban on Euro 5 diesels by September 2015, in compliance with a court order. 

Stuttgart, home of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, will be required to introduce a diesel ban by September 2019

It follows court action by ClientEarth and Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) taking the Baden- Württemberg government to court last year, with the German Federal Administrative Court ruling in February that insufficient action had been taken to reduce air pollution in the city.

In June, the court ruled that bans on Euro 3 and 4 vehicles, excluding residents, were inadequate following additional pressure from DUH. The Federal State now has until the end of August to update its plans, setting a city-wide ban on Euro 5 vehicles – sold between 2009 and 2015 – to be in place by September 2019. Otherwise, it will face a €10,000 fine.

DUH CEO Jürgen Resch said: “After Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg must now also be forced to comply with the law by means of coercive measures. The state government continues to bide for time and thus willingly accepts the health risks to its citizens.

“The proposed measures are not sufficient to meet the limit values for toxic nitrogen dioxide in the short-term. We will continue to help people and ensure that the necessary measures for the short-term enforcement of ‘clean air’ in Stuttgart are taken by the court.”

Ugo Taddei, a lawyer from ClientEarth added: “It comes as no surprise that the court has been forced once again to step in to protect people’s right to breathe clean air. Repeated court orders have required the introduction of comprehensive and effective traffic restrictions in Stuttgart.

Stuttgart’s diesel bans follow similar commitments from Aachen and Munich, following the German Federal Administrative Court’s decision in February.