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Car Free Day is held in Belarus on 22 September, BelTA learnt from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
The movement aims to reduce pollution, popularize healthy lifestyle and highlight the ecological problems of the Belarusian towns.
Despite the fact that the motor transport industry is the most important economic sector, it remains to be the largest environmental polluter. Transport is responsible for 72% of the total pollutant emissions in the country. The number of motor transport in Belarus reaches 3,200 cars and bikes. This figure increases by 3-4% every year.
The first Car Free Day was held in La Rochelle, France, in 1997. A year later the initiative spread across the country. In 1999 France was joined by Italy and Switzerland. In 2007 partaking in the movement were 1353 towns from 37 European countries and Canada.
Belarus organized its first Car Free Day in 2008. The action resulted in cutting pollutant emissions by more than 400 tons including nearly 100 tons in Minsk. Employees of seventeen ministries of Belarus, the Belneftekhim Concern and the Minsk City Council have joined the action this year.
News provided by Agency 'BelTA'
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