Study on International Practices for Low Emission Zone and Congestion Charging

The report analyzes the implementation of congestion charging and low emission zones in London, Singapore, and Stockholm. It highlights the importance of national legal safeguards, strong local political will, transparent revenue allocation, and effective public communication. Key findings include significant reductions in traffic volume and pollutants in all three cities, though the specific technologies used—such as London's ANPR and Singapore's DSRC—varied based on local needs and urban landscapes.

• In London, the Congestion Charging (CC) policy led to a 30% drop in private vehicles entering the charging zone and a 30% reduction in congestion levels within one year of becoming effective. Additionally, the number of buses and coaches entering the central area increased by 20%.
• London's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) significantly improved vehicle compliance; by June 2013, over 95% of vehicles entering the zone met the required emission standards. This resulted in a reduction of particulate matter (PM) concentrations by approximately 2.46–3.07% within the zone.
• Singapore's Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system, which replaced the manual Area Licensing Scheme (ALS) in 1998, successfully maintained traffic volume in the restricted zone despite a continuous increase in the total number of vehicles in the city. Public transport share increased to 66% during rush hours.
• Stockholm's congestion tax trial in 2006 demonstrated a 20–25% reduction in traffic volumes across the charge cordon during charged hours and a reduction of approximately 14% in air pollutant concentrations (CO2, NOx, and PM).
• Stockholm's LEZ policy, introduced in 1996, led to a 40% decrease in PM emissions from heavy-duty vehicles across the city four years after its introduction.
• Technology selection varies by city: London utilized Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) for its low visual impact and quick setup; Singapore employed Dedicated Short-Range Radio Communications (DSRC) for stability and flexibility; and Stockholm initially combined DSRC and ANPR before moving toward ANPR.
• Public acceptance is heavily influenced by how the policy is framed and communicated. Stockholm found success by presenting the congestion tax as an 'environmental' charge rather than a road toll, emphasizing health benefits over traffic flow.

APA

Wang, Y., Song, S., Qiu, S., Lu, L., Ma, Y., Li, X., & Hu, Y. (2017). Study on International Practices for Low Emission Zone and Congestion Charging. World Resources Institute. http://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/Study_on_International_Practices_for_Low_Emission_Zone_and_Congestion_Charging.pdf

Chicago

Wang, Ying, Su Song, Shiyong Qiu, Lu Lu, Yilin Ma, Xiaoyi Li, and Ying Hu. Study on International Practices for Low Emission Zone and Congestion Charging. World Resources Institute, 2017. http://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/Study_on_International_Practices_for_Low_Emission_Zone_and_Congestion_Charging.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wang |first1=Ying |last2=Song |first2=Su |last3=Qiu |first3=Shiyong |last4=Lu |first4=Lu |last5=Ma |first5=Yilin |last6=Li |first6=Xiaoyi |last7=Hu |first7=Ying |title=Study on International Practices for Low Emission Zone and Congestion Charging |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=January 2017 |url=http://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/Study_on_International_Practices_for_Low_Emission_Zone_and_Congestion_Charging.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wang2017study, author = {Wang, Ying and Song, Su and Qiu, Shiyong and Lu, Lu and Ma, Yilin and Li, Xiaoyi and Hu, Ying}, title = {{Study on International Practices for Low Emission Zone and Congestion Charging}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2017}, month = jan, url = {http://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/Study_on_International_Practices_for_Low_Emission_Zone_and_Congestion_Charging.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }