The Cabinet of Ministers today approved the bill entitled "The Law on the Determination of Special Measures for the Reduction of Atmospheric Pollutants and Greenhouse Gases from Road Transport of 2023" submitted by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.
The promotion of the above bill by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works is a reform that aims to create the necessary legal basis so that measures related to the road network and vehicle traffic can be determined, based on the reduction of the environmental impact of road transport. It is noted that road transport in Cyprus is responsible for about 50% of the greenhouse gas emissions (mainly CO2) compared to activities not included in the Emissions Trading Scheme (known as "ETS"). This translates into about two million tonnes per year.
The implementation of the measures to be taken with the enactment of the law will help to achieve the objectives of the "National Climate and Energy Governance System", as well as the "National Action Plan for the Improvement of Air Quality in Cyprus", concerning the emissions of air pollutants (atmospheric), in the context of compliance with the obligations arising from the "European Green Agreement" and the package of legislation known as "Fit for 55".
The bill that has been approved by the Council of Ministers is a reform that the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works has undertaken to implement as part of the Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan of tomorrow, in which two grant schemes have also been approved for 100% funding from the Fund, the Grant Scheme for the Purchase of Electric Vehicles and the Scheme for the Decommissioning of Hazardous Vehicles and Incentives for Alternative, Low Emission Transport Modes. With these plans, the granting of positive incentives to reduce emissions from road transport has already begun.
The bill that has been approved is also a reform provided for in the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works' General Policy Framework for the Promotion of the Use of Electric Vehicles that has recently been approved by the Council of Ministers.
Upon enactment of the Bill, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, after consultation with the relevant Local Government Authority, will be able to determine measures such as the following
- The designation of low or zero emission areas or roads.
- The prohibition, in certain areas or roads or at certain days and times, of the movement of polluting vehicles. -
- The setting of a date beyond which the registration of polluting vehicles shall not be permitted. e.g. old-style diesel vehicles.
- The designation of bus lanes.
- The definition of transport activities to be carried out exclusively by electric vehicles, e.g. product delivery service.
- The establishment of requirements to include, in advertisements or other means of promoting the purchase or use of vehicles powered by conventional fuels, messages promoting alternative modes of transport, such as walking, cycling and the use of public passenger transport.
In addition, under the Act, regulations will be issued specifying the offences to be recorded by means of photo-recording devices and the procedure to be followed for the purposes of out-of-court settlement of such offences. This will resolve issues of policing these measures, a requirement of several municipalities in Cyprus, such as the Municipality of Nicosia.
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