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Drivers in Seville could soon face fines in the city’s Low Emission Zone only on days when air pollution reaches high levels, following an agreement between the Ayuntamiento and Vox to reform the current system.

 

The change affects the Low Emission Zone in La Cartuja and forms part of a wider deal between both parties to approve Seville’s municipal budgets for 2026. The agreement ends the automatic and permanent application of fines and traffic restrictions, replacing it with a system linked directly to pollution data recorded by sensors.

 

The move comes as Andalucía continues to struggle with air quality standards under European rules, with Seville among the cities previously highlighted for dangerous pollution levels.

 

After a meeting held on Monday January 12, the Ayuntamiento confirmed that sanctions will only be applied on days when high environmental pollution is officially recorded. Municipal sources stressed that the reform will be introduced “within the framework of European regulations”, which set an annual limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre for nitrogen dioxide, known as NO2.

 

To make this possible, the Seville City Council’s Technological Institute is expected to receive instructions this Tuesday to install pollution monitoring meters in La Cartuja. Vox sources have said funding for the sensors “is guaranteed”, while municipal officials have underlined that the equipment is essential to properly track emissions and apply the rules in a technically sound way. Data on how many fines were issued in the area over the past year is not yet available.

 

Vox has welcomed the progress made in changing the ordinance. Party spokesperson Cristina Peláez said, “Soon, the people of Seville will be rid of an unfair, ideological measure that is deeply detrimental to thousands of Sevillians, especially workers, the self-employed, families and small business owners.”

 

The Low Emission Zone in La Cartuja came into force on Monday July 1, 2024, under Spain’s Climate Change Act. It restricted access for the most polluting vehicles from Monday to Friday between 7am and 7pm. Vehicles with environmental labels ‘0 Emissions’, ‘ECO’, ‘C’ or ‘B’ were exempt from the ban.

 

While the Ayuntamiento insists the revised system will still meet European legal requirements, the change marks a clear shift away from permanent restrictions, tying penalties instead to real-time pollution levels recorded on the ground.