• Anne Hidalgo uses ZFEs as a tool to make Paris a leading city in climate action with mitigated success. 
• Hidalgo’s Zones à Faibles Émissions (ZFEs) policy has proven to be successful as it has diminished Paris’ emissions by half compared to the numbers from 2005. 
• While ZFEs were successful, they have met a lot of backlash from both the general population and opposition parties for being inaccessible to lower-income households. 

Why is Anne Hidalgo Mild?

Answer: While Hidalgo’s Zone à Faibles Émissions (ZFE) policy has reduced air pollution in Paris, it has faced criticism from other political parties as well as the population for disproportionately impacting lower-income households, who cannot afford cleaner vehicles.

Anne Hidalgo was elected mayor of Paris in 2014, becoming the first female mayor of the city. Throughout her mayoral term, Anne Hidalgo led transformative urban planning projects to reduce emissions, exemplifying the importance of local leadership in climate action. Hidalgo’s policies remain centered around development and social mobility principles; nevertheless, her policies, such as low-emission zones, exemplify the difficulty of reconciling climate action and social justice. As of 2024, Paris’ average temperature is 2.3ºC higher compared to pre-industrial times, and it is expected that temperatures will be 2.5ºC higher in 2030 and 3ºC by 2050. To protect her citizens from future floods, heatwaves, and health complications, Anne Hidalgo advocates for low-emission zones.

In December 2019, the French government passed a bill making ZFEs mandatory in urban areas with over 15000 inhabitants as part of Macron’s climate plan. They restrict highly polluting vehicles from entering urban areas as a means to reduce air pollution. ZFEs were gradually implemented in France, but Hidalgo seized the lead in their execution in Paris and went further by tightening restrictions. Hidalgo targeted the transportation sector since it is responsible for the majority of emissions of nitrogen oxide compounds and particulate matter, which are both the source of respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.

A report by Airparif shows that transportation alone is responsible for 50% of NOx, 24%  PM10, and 20 % of PM2.5 emissions. ZFEs were enforced by restricting vehicles belonging to specific categories from the Crit’air criteria, a system which categorizes vehicles from most polluting (Crit’air 5) to least polluting (Crit’air 1).

Since their implementation, ZFEs have significantly reduced traffic in the center of Paris and accelerated the transition to a more sustainable form of transformation, thus reducing air pollution by 55% since 2005. The levels of pollutants such as NO2 and PM2.5 have significantly decreased since 2019. Air pollution leads to respiratory issues. Greenhouse gas emissions have led to 40,000 deaths between 2016 and 2019 according to Santé Publique France.

By reducing harmful pollutants present in the atmosphere, health benefits are expected in the years to come. In a study from 2020, from the Observatoire Régional de la Santé, it is predicted that ZFE will reduce admissions into hospitals for “ischemic heart disease” by 0,1 % (Only Crit’air 5)  to  2,1 % (Crit’air 5,4,3) for age groups 40-74 years old. ZFE will reduce by 0,2 % (Only Crit’air 5)  to t  2,7 % (Crit’air 5,4,3) hospitalization cases of asthma for 0-17 years old.

Anne Hidalgo’s implementation of ZFE in the center of Paris is criticized since it is considered socially unjust. The policy stirred a lot of discontent both in the right-wing and left-wing parties since they considered that the law passed was not equitable and did not provide enough financial support or enough improvements to the public modes of transportation. As a result, in 2025, the National Assembly voted to remove this policy, but Anne Hidalgo does not plan on stopping. On the contrary, she plans to maintain low-emission zones in Paris, increasing discontent amongst her citizens.

What is changing Anne Hidalgo’s heat level? 

Answer: Anne Hidalgo, despite the imminent abolition of ZFEs passed by the National Assembly, has remained focused and determined in her goal to transform Paris and make it more resilient and prepared for the impacts of climate change. 

Hidalgo’s Zones à Faibles Émissions were on track to meet the goals for this policy in reducing NO2 emissions and phasing out diesel vehicles by 2030, but the National Assembly intervened in the matter. On May 28, the National Assembly, as part of the reviewing process of the bill ‘to simplify economic life’, passed the motion to abolish established ZFEs throughout France. Led by members of the right-wing group the National Rally, ZFEs had already faced pressure in late March during a revision by the special committee of the bill mentioned above, which saw the passing of an amendment to discontinue the low-emissions zones. 

ZFEs suffered immense scrutiny from MPs from all sides, who criticized them for excluding members of society due to their economic conditions, which prevented them from transitioning to Crit’Air 2 and 1 vehicles. There was an overall consensus amongst members of the National Assembly that ZFEs were creating social inequalities. Additionally, they also criticized Hidalgo’s policy for having  “poor implementation” and claimed that it has been “useless”. Still, the bill remains to go through its thorough examination process, creating hope that the amendment to remove ZFEs could be repealed during the overall vote on the bill. 

Nonetheless, Anne Hidalgo still has other policies that can achieve the goal of improving air quality and overall living conditions for Parisians. She, in collaboration with her team and the Deputy Mayor for the Ecological Transition, has developed a detailed Climate Action Plan for the 2024-2030 period, analyzing and explaining the measures the city of Paris will take to achieve a fairer, more resilient Paris. 

Notwithstanding, Hidalgo has faced increasing criticism from right-wing representatives and journalists since she was re-elected in 2022. The opposition claims that Hidalgo has “ruined Paris”, destroying the heritage of the city, leaving a hefty financial burden, and high crime and traffic. Additionally, in a poll conducted in 2023, Parisians supported the ecological transition but admitted that the city’s condition has deteriorated, especially in terms of cleanliness. 

Still, in spite of the opposition and scrutiny Anne Hidalgo has faced, she has continued working towards creating an environment more resilient to climate change and ameliorating the lives of all Parisians. Her time as incumbent in the Hôtel de Ville has and will continue to showcase her attempt to improve social mobility, all the while focusing on development.

What is driving Anne Hidalgo? 

Answer: Motivated by COP21 and her socialist values, Anne Hidalgo plans to implement ZFEs and position Paris as a leading city in climate action.

Two themes that have been at the center of her mayoral agenda in the past decade have been her socialist political convictions and striving for equality. Hidalgo’s education in social studies and the work of her predecessor, Bertrand Delanoe, shaped the focus of her policies on restricting traffic from the center of Paris whilst promoting public transportation and expanding the cycling network. 

COP21 was a turning point with the Paris Agreement. As Mayor of Paris she stepped up to be a leading city in climate action, and co-hosted the Climate Summit For Local Leaders, gathering over 1000 mayors. This was the largest conference for local leaders concerning climate change, creating a space for networking and collaboration between cities. Following the summit, she was selected to be chair of the C40, further expanding her network and elevating her to the international scene making Paris a leader in climate action making COP21 a motivation for Hidaglo to place Paris as a leading city for climate action.

Moreover, she perceives climate change as one of the most pressing issues to protect the future of the environment and our “children” further driving her policies. She declared “Climate change is a real threat to the future of our planet. It endangers the health, prosperity, security and lives of our children and grandchildren. The scientific evidence is undeniable and irrefutable.” a deep conviction further driving Hidalgo to make Paris a more resilient city for climate change.

What does this mean for you? 

Answer: Anne Hidalgo’s tenure as mayor has cemented the role mayors can have to advocate against climate change and implement policies locally, and demonstrate the relevance of local action for international considerations

ZFE’s impact has been felt throughout Paris since its implementation in 2019, achieving a substantial reduction in the PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide emissions, which are the most produced by common vehicles. Through ZFEs, Anne Hidalgo has effectively alleviated the exposure of these pollutants for everyone, however, focusing on residential areas and precarious neighborhoods to decrease the health risk factor. ZFE’s time in force has been instrumental in achieving Hidalgo’s promise to create a greener Paris and achieve a carbon-neutral Paris by the 2030 deadline. 

The result of the bill ‘to simplify economic life’ will be crucial for the future of ZFEs and their continuous positive impact on improving the quality of life of Parisians. While it could signify a setback in the work Anne Hidalgo was advocating for, it will remain an important question for Paris and France, as the rest of the EU has similar successful low-emission zones. 

Nonetheless, Anne Hidalgo has earned acknowledgements domestically and internationally. With her status as the first female mayor of Paris and a leader of the ecological transition in the city, Anne Hidalgo demonstrates how an inclusive and collective approach can contribute to the overall development of the city, benefiting all its residents. Additionally, her vision and leadership have earned her positions internationally, like C40 Chair in 2016, allowing her to make a difference and support other cities in the fight against climate change. 

Policies like ZFEs showcase the collective vision Anne Hidalgo strives for all Parisians, as she aims to conclude her last year in the Hôtel de Ville. Although the end of her tenure as mayor may be with the shutdown of ZFEs, she has proved to us and the rest of the world that change comes from pushing against opposing forces, especially if it is about matters that will shape the future of us all.

IExRAIA Summer Research Program:

This article is an excerpt from a report on Claudia Sheinbaum produced as part of an RAIA research program on climate leaders. For a full picture of Ruto’s climate leadership, including the sources, read the full report. This project was fully financed by IE University’s IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs.

Author: Alice Girotto & Bryan Thorne

Editor: Roxane de Bergevin

Project Leads: Roxane de Bergevin & Stefani Obradovic