意大利米蘭污染嚴重禁車十小時

因爲空氣污染嚴重，意大利北部城市米蘭政府決定，除公共汽車外，9日當天8點至18點禁止其它一切機動車上路行駛，預計將有12萬機動車受到影響。衛星圖像顯示，米蘭是歐洲空氣質量最差的城市之一。市政當局2007年試推禁令，規定每立方米空氣中污染物連續12天超過50毫克時，禁止機動車上道。米蘭上次實行禁車令是在2月。不過，不少環保主義者認爲，禁車不是根本之道，政府應加強公共交通建設，鼓勵大家乘坐公共交通工具出行。

The northern Italian city of Milan banned all traffic from its streets for 10 hours on Sunday in an attempt to reduce smog.

The measure, first imposed on a trial basis in 2007, is triggered whenever pollution exceeds the statutory limit for 12 consecutive days.

Satellite imagery shows Milan to be one of the most polluted cities in Europe.

An estimated 120,000 vehicles will be affected by the move, according to the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

The most polluting vehicles have been banned from driving through the city centre since Thursday.

But on Sunday, there was no traffic between 0800 and 1800 local time (06:00-16:00 GMT).

The ban is imposed when pollution exceeds 50 micrograms of particulates per cubic metre of air over 12 days. The last time the full ban was in force was in February.

The move is not popular with all environmentalists, who argue that the city's public transport system should be improved to discourage people from using their cars.

Local Green Party councillor Enrico Fedrighini said cars with three or four people inside should be offered free parking, for example.

"One or two car-free Sundays each month won't do anything to tackle the smog crisis," he told Corriere della Sera.

Public transport was to be bolstered during the day, with an extra metro trains and buses operating.