Germany to invest 1 billion euros in lowering air pollution

The funds are to be invested among other things into electric buses, electric charging stations and a more environmentally friendly traffic infrastructure.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the federal government will provide 1 billion euros (1.2 billion dollars) to cities and towns across the country in 2018 in an effort to make traffic more environmentally friendly.

German agriculture minister Christian Schmidt (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a Diesel Summit with mayors of large German cities in the chancellery in Berlin on on Tuesday. (AFP)

The money is to be invested in finding traffic solutions to lower air pollution.

Many cities in Germany face driving bans because the air pollution is frequently above the allowed maximum levels due to the many cars’ exhaust fumes.

The funds are to be invested among other things into electric buses, electric charging stations and a more environmentally friendly traffic infrastructure.

German environment minister Barbara Hendricks lauded the initiative as a first important step but called on the automobile industry to also support the government’s action plan.