Abstract
Air pollution caused by traffic and other sources remains a challenge in big cities and urbanized areas in Germany and abroad. Nitrogen dioxide emissions, particulate matter, noise emissions, and ozone are still problematic issues with negative impacts on both the environment and human health. In 2018, the German Federal Government launched the “Lead City Program,” a €130-million fund to support five selected so-called Lead Cities in developing and implementing air quality policies. This article comparatively analyzes the policy-making process and policy content for better air quality in the three (out of five) Lead Cities—Essen, Herrenberg, and Reutlingen. Conceptually, we rely on two theoretical frameworks—the policy package approach (PPA) and the multiple streams framework (MSF). The objective, thus, is an ex-post analysis of policy development by means of two policy science-based concepts. Based on document-based desk research and qualitative interviews with policymakers and stakeholders in each of the three cities, we identified a number of key variables that created a window of opportunity and paved the way for the selection of the policy packages. The resulting five key variables are direct interaction between the different governance levels, long-standing non-compliance with the European Union (EU) NO2 limit values in many German cities, the resulting European and national infringement proceedings, the diesel scandal, and the Lead City Program as overall multiple stream-coupling facilitators. The results are then discussed regarding the explanatory power of MSF and PPA and the mutual potential linkages these concepts offer for future research.
Highlights
Air pollution caused by traffic and other sources remains a challenge in big cities and urbanized areas in Germany and abroad
The European Commission set limit values for air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter in the Directive 2008/50/EC to address the improvement of air quality in Europe [1]
We rely on two theoretical frameworks—the Policy Package Approach (PPA) and the Multiple Streams
Summary
Air pollution caused by traffic and other sources remains a challenge in big cities and urbanized areas in Germany and abroad. The European Commission set limit values for air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter in the Directive 2008/50/EC to address the improvement of air quality in Europe [1]. If these limit values are exceeded, member states are obliged to implement air quality plans for a rapid reduction of air emissions. The European Union sets the regulatory framework for air quality in Europe and its member states. L 152/1), the link between problem identification and objective setting is clearly stated: “In order to protect human health and the environment as a whole, it is important to combat emissions of pollutants at source and to identify and implement the most effective emission reduction measures at local, national and Community level. Emissions of harmful air pollutants should be avoided, prevented or reduced and appropriate objectives set for ambient air quality taking into account relevant World Health Organisation standards, guidelines and programmes.” two limit values for NO2 in the ambient air have been applied in the directive, which have been effective since 2010: (1) the annual average must not exceed 40 μg/m3 and (2) the maximum value of 200 μg/m3 must not be exceeded more than 18 times per year
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