In a referendum called by the City Council, Parisians voted in favor of stricter regulations on heavier vehicles, including a proposal to triple the price of parking for these vehicles. However, citizen participation in the voting process was low, with less than 6% of the 1.3 million eligible voters actually casting their votes.

The measure specifically targets thermal or hybrid vehicles weighing over 1.6 tons and electric vehicles weighing over 2 tons. Once implemented, the parking fees for these vehicles will increase to 18 euros per hour in central districts and 12 euros per hour in peripheral districts, resulting in an estimated additional revenue of 35 million euros for the city.

This victory for Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, a socialist, aligns with her previous efforts to reduce the presence of vehicles in the city. Hidalgo had campaigned against SUVs, which she associated with increased pollution and reduced space in urban areas. This measure will now be presented to the municipal plenary session for endorsement before being implemented.

Despite Hidalgo’s success, the low participation in the referendum has raised some criticism, with opponents arguing that the measure is more about political populism than genuine environmental concern. However, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, praised Paris’s initiative and predicted that it would influence other cities worldwide to address similar issues.