Geneva Frees Temporary Public Transportation To Overcome Pollution Spike

JAKARTA - The Geneva Authority, Switzerland made public transportation free for a while last week, its first policy in Switzerland, part of a series of moves aimed at tackling the city's surge in pollution.

Geneva, located in the western region of Switzerland, is experiencing a peak of severe ozone pollution, a dangerous gas that can cause difficulty breathing and trigger headaches and asthma attacks, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The city's anti-light smoke system shows that ozone concentration has exceeded the environmental health threshold of 180 micrograms per cubic meter for 24 hours, according to a statement from the Geneva Canton.

Last Tuesday, temperatures reached 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit) and the government issued heat warnings for Switzerland's western and southern regions.

High temperatures and low cloud cover cause ozone pollutants to accumulate and take longer to decompose, Kanton Geneva Environmental Office told Reuters.

In response, public transportation is free for the first time a day later across the canton, to encourage residents and visitors to switch from car to buses, trams, trains and ships to reduce traffic emissions.

"The steps taken in this emergency protocol aim to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, especially by promoting public transport and limiting the circulation of the most polluting vehicles," the environmental office said.

Passengers will not need tickets, and ticket checks will be suspended until pollution improves, authorities said in a statement.

In addition, between 06.00 and 22.00 local time, only cars with low emissions are allowed to pave the way in the city center.