Espoo and Helsinki to introduce Finland’s first zero-emission zones for trucks and vans
Espoo is preparing to establish zero-emission zones for trucks and delivery vans, a move that would mark the first such initiative in Finland. The proposal, part of the city’s updated Carbon-Neutral Espoo roadmap, aims to restrict access to areas where only vehicles producing no exhaust emissions would be permitted. The plan is set to be presented to Espoo’s City Board and City Council in the autumn (Yle).
The zones are designed to reduce traffic-related emissions and noise, which are currently the largest source of emissions in Espoo, while also improving air quality. Espoo’s Mayor Kai Mykkänen stated that the decision would signal a push for faster investment in clean vehicle fleets. "Zero-emission zones for transport are the clearest and most realistic way to simultaneously accelerate the reduction of emissions and noise in traffic," he said (Yle; Ilta-Sanomat).
The implementation will be phased, with details on the zones’ scope, transition periods, and operational impacts to be finalised during the planning process. Espoo is collaborating with other cities in the capital region and transport sector operators to develop the scheme (Yle).
Helsinki is also planning to introduce similar zero-emission zones for trucks and vans, making the two cities pioneers in Finland (Yle; Ilta-Sanomat). The initiative aligns with broader European trends, where cities are increasingly adopting zero-emission zones to cut pollution and enhance urban living conditions (Yle).
Currently, only 5.4 percent of vans and 2.3 percent of trucks in the Uusimaa region run on electricity or biogas. The zones are expected to accelerate the shift toward emission-free vehicles (Ilta-Sanomat).
