Hamburg, the country’s second-largest city is the first German city to ban older diesel vehicles from certain streets.

Effective immediately older diesel vehicles, - those that don’t meet at least Euro-6 emissions standards - will be banned from selected urban areas. This is the first time that a German city has taken this action. 

Cars and trucks alike are included in the ban from two key streets in the city.  However, drivers heading to a specific address on the two affected streets, including residents, trash collectors, suppliers and taxis, will be exempt from the restrictions. Police will make random checks and fine drivers of older diesel cars €25 and truck owners up to €75 for violating the new rules.

This decision made by Hamburg's environment and energy department puts the city at the forefront of German cities seeking to improve air quality by targeting diesel. There are over 330,000 diesel cars in Hamburg but only about 116,000 have the Euro-6 technology that was introduced in 2014, according to local government data.

Bans on diesel vehicles from city centres are also planned in Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens by 2025, while the mayor of Copenhagen wants to bar new diesel cars from entering the city centre as soon as next year.