THE CONGESTION TAX IN STOCKHOLM – EFFECTS ON AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH

Abstract:

The congestion tax in Stockholm has resulted in a reduction in the volume of traffic in Stockholm’s inner city. This has led to lower emissions of carbon dioxide, particles and nitrogen oxides, which in their turn in have lowered the contribution from traffic to total levels of particles (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide. The emissions of particles and nitrogen oxide from road traffic fell by 8%-12% in Stockholm’s inner city. For all road traffic in the City of Stockholm this corresponds to between 3%-5%. This means that, with a congestion tax, both the average particle levels for the population of Stockholm and the nitrogen oxide levels would be some percent lower. In total for the entire Greater Stockholm area (1.44 million inhabitants, 35 x 35 km), it is estimated that between 25 and 30 fewer premature deaths would occur per year as a result of a reduction in long-term exposure to particles.