2025 State of Urban Transport
Zero-emission zones are arriving in European cities, supported by the production of electric vans and the rapid deployment of electric charging.
of the EU population lives in cities.
of the share of transport GHG emissions are generated in cities.
of the EU urban population is exposed to unsafe air.
Cities are cleaning up transport faster than countries, introducing ambitious goals that go beyond European and national policies.
The first zero-emission zones (ZEZ) are already in force, and a total of 35 such zones are already planned across Europe. Modelling studies show that ZEZs can reduce tailpipe CO2 emissions from affected vehicles by 90% while also cutting air pollution from vehicles by more than 90% for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and by over 40% for particulate matter (PM2.5).
EU and UK policies and city initiatives are mutually reinforcing. For example, following legislation, zero-emission vans are being supplied at scale and are already cheaper to run in most parts of Europe. City initiatives ensured there was enough early demand for e-vans to scale up their production.
All of these electric vehicles will need a step change in city charging infrastructure – from fast charging, destination charging, in apartment buildings and on-street.
Read Transport & Environment’s full State of European Transport report.
Data sources
For the 3 numbers on top of the page: World Development Indicators United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision; European Commission (2021) The New European Urban Mobility Framework and European Environment Agency (2024) Exceedance of air quality standards in Europe.