Madrid local authority activates second level of contamination protocol

The Madrid local authority on Thursday activated the second level of protocols due to the high level of atmospheric contamination in the city.

This is the first time the second level of the protocol has ever been put into effect and the decision was taken after contamination levels passed 200 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide for three consecutive nights in the Spanish capital.

The first stage of the protocol, which was put into effect on Tuesday for the second time in less than a month, limits speed on access roads into the Spanish capital, while the more drastic second step prohibits non-residents from parking their vehicles within the radius of the M-30 ring road.

The local authority has also put into effect a series of other measures, such as increasing services on public transport with extra buses and an extra of 132 metro wagons during the morning and evening rush hour.

People, especially those with respiratory problems, have also been advised to limit the amount of exercise they take outside.

The Spanish Meteorological Agency explains that the current area of high pressure over Madrid means there is very little wind and no rainfall, which is aiding the buildup of particles in the atmosphere.

This situation is expected to continue until at least the weekend and the Town Hall has not ruled out bringing the third level of restrictions into effect. These will halve the number of cars allowed into the city center with those whose registration plate ends in an even number allowed in one day and those whose registration ends in an odd number allowed in the following day.

With the Climate Talks currently ongoing in Paris, this situation only serves to highlight the need for world leaders to find a solution to the question of reducing emissions which lead to climate change. Endit