Clean Transport Zone implementation in Poland

Debates regarding Clean Transport Zones (SCT) are ongoing in major Polish cities. In Kraków, a civic initiative led by mayoral candidate Jan Hoffman has launched an electronic signature collection to modify the SCT. The proposal seeks to reduce the zone’s area, ease emission standards, extend transition periods, and clarify exceptions, suggesting a consultative referendum to determine the zone’s final shape.

In Warsaw, data from the Warsaw Smog Alarm indicates that the SCT has been operational for two years, with nitrogen dioxide concentrations within the zone decreasing by 18 percent between 2023 and 2025. This compares to a 5 percent decrease outside the zone. Current Warsaw regulations primarily impact older vehicles, though 96 percent of entering cars already meet the required standards.

Public opinion research in Kraków suggests that while 26 percent of voters who sought the removal of Mayor Aleksander Miszalski in a May referendum mentioned the SCT, it was not the primary driver for their decision. Other concerns included public transport costs, city debt, and municipal nepotism. Furthermore, 72 percent of surveyed residents believe Clean Transport Zones are necessary if they are well-designed.

As of September 2026, the SCT remains a contentious issue among mayoral candidates in Kraków. Proposed approaches continue to include reducing the zone's geographic area or holding a referendum to allow residents to decide on its size.