France has enforced a partial motoring ban in Paris and surrounding areas from Monday morning as it battles to control dangerously high pollution levels. The move, the first of its kind since 1997, comes as a spell of unusually warm and windless weather has exacerbated the level of pollution in the French capital – now at its highest in 16 years, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). More than 30 departments in France have been hit by maximum-level pollution alerts since Thursday. The ban from Monday will be enforced on private vehicles with petrol or diesel engines whose number plates end in an even number. It will then apply to vehicles with number plates ending in an odd number on Tuesday. Cars carrying three passengers or more will be exempt, as will taxis, buses, emergency vehicles and refrigerated lorries. All other lorries will be banned. “Our primary goal […]