Air Quality

Barcelona records pollution levels (particularly suspended particulate matter PM10 and nitrogen dioxide NO₂) that are very harmful for people's health and do not comply with WHO recommendations. 98% and 68% of the population, respectively, may be exposed to levels of PM10 and NO₂ above those recommended. See the Evaluation of air quality in Barcelona city report compiled by the Barcelona Public Health Agency.

This is a 95 km² area that includes Barcelona and the municipalities surrounding the ring roads where restrictions on the use of the most polluting vehicles are gradually being introduced. Further information.

It affects everybody's health but especially that of more sensitive people such as adults with respiratory or heart diseases, pregnant women, the elderly and children under the age of six. Pollution damages the cardiovascular, respiratory, immunological and fertility systems. It contributes to the onset of asthma, slows down the development of the lungs and the brain in children, and generally lowers our quality of life and life expectancy. Further information.

On days when there is a pollution episode with restricted circulation, the following vehicles cannot circulate inside the  Barcelona Ring Roads Low Emission Zone: cars without the DGT environmental sticker (petrol-driven cars manufactured prior to Euro 3 and registered before 2000, and diesel-driven cars manufactured prior to Euro 4 and registered before January 2006), vans manufactured prior to Euro 1 (registered before 1 October 1994) and motorbikes, mopeds and quadricycles without a DGT environmental sticker (manufactured prior to Euro 2, registered before 2003). Further information.

Yes. All vehicles that circulate inside the Barcelona Ring Roads Low Emission Zone are subject to the same restrictions irrespective of where they are registered, be it any Spanish province or abroad.

The General Directorate of Traffic has classified vehicles according to their environmental behaviour. Only vehicles that meet the minimum expected environmental requirements are issued with the DGT sticker. You can check what your vehicle’s DGT environmental sticker is on the DGT website.

This is a travel card that gives the holder the right to three years' free public transport within the metropolitan area (1-6 zones) in exchange for scrapping a vehicle considered to be highly pollutant and not buying another one for three years. Further information.

This occurs when the levels of pollutants in the air (the suspended particulate matter PM10 and/or the gas nitrogen dioxide NO₂) recorded in more than one station in the Catalan Atmospheric Pollution Monitoring and Forecasting Network (XVPCA) exceed the set limits and the forecasts do not predict any improvement. In this situation, the Government of Catalonia declares an air pollution episode, as a health and environmental protection measure. See the measures implemented.

Through the Barcelona City Council information and public advice channels and the channels of the Government of Catalonia, the AMB and the main public transport operators. On days with restricted circulation, there will also be alerts on the electronic panels located on the express roads and inside the city, and on the signs prohibiting access inside the Barcelona Ring Roads Low Emission Zone on the Barcelona Ring Road exits. Register here for the free pollution alert service by email.

To promote the use of public transport among non-habitual users, when there is a pollution episode which restricts circulation public transport operators offer the T-Aire, a multi-person travel pass for two journeys at the same price as two T-10 journeys. Further information.