Canary Islands High Court Reviews Legal Challenge Against Santa Cruz Low Emission Zone

The legal battle over Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s Low Emission Zone (ZBE) has reached a new stage. The High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands is now reviewing a lawsuit from the El Perenquén and El Toscal de las Tribulaciones neighborhood associations, who are calling for the city’s new regulations to be scrapped.

This challenge was filed just before the ordinance was set to take effect. While the administrative process is starting now, the actual traffic restrictions in the city center are not scheduled to be fully operational until 2029. Represented by lawyer Felipe Campos, the plaintiffs argue that the rules are illegitimate, claiming they unfairly restrict mobility and will harm local businesses, according to spokesperson Silvia Barrera.

This is not the first time these groups have taken legal action; they previously tried, and failed, to block the contract for the project’s technical implementation. This ongoing dispute highlights the tension between local officials and residents over the city’s sustainable mobility plans.

The conflict stems from a national mandate requiring all Spanish municipalities with over 50,000 residents to establish low emission zones under the Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition. While the law aims to improve air quality and reduce carbon footprints, the capital’s specific approach is now facing a judicial review to determine if the city’s plan is legal and proportionate.