Spanish capital Madrid activates protocols for atmospheric contamination

The Madrid Town Hall on Tuesday activated the protocols for the high levels of atmospheric contamination in the Spanish capital.

The protocols come into effect as world leaders go into their second day of discussions over how to reduce emissions in the Paris Climate change talks and just two days after an estimated 20,000 people marched through the heart of Madrid to call for action to reduce emissions and combat climate change.

A combination of a long spell of dry weather with low wind-speed, combined with the high number of vehicles in Madrid meant that late on Monday night the system for measuring atmospheric contamination in the capital recorded levels of particles suspended in the atmosphere of over 250 micrograms per cubic meter.

That automatically triggered the "warning" level which means that cars travelling into Madrid have to obey a maximum speed limit of 70km/h, with the local authority advising the use of public transport and also advising anyone with respiratory problems that they should limit physical exercise outdoors.

This is the second time the protocol has been put into effect in less than a month.

With unseasonably warm and dry weather forecast to continue for the coming week, there is a chance contamination levels will continue to increase in which case the Local Authority will implement "more restrictive measures," which include forbidding parking in the center of the city for non-residents and restricting circulation of vehicles by 50 within the radius of the M-30 motorway. Endit