Diesel ban approved for German cities to cut pollutionGerman cities will be allowed to ban older diesel vehicles from some areas following a landmark court ruling. Photo: MARK RENDERSThe Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig said the cities of Stuttgart and Duesseldorf could legally ban older, more polluting diesel cars from zones worst affected by pollution. The environmental group DUH brought the cases after about 70 German cities exceeded European Union limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx) last year. Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens have all pledged to ban diesel vehicles from city centres by 2025, while the mayor of Copenhagen wants to ban new diesel cars from entering the city as soon as next year. Analysts at Evercore ISI said the latest German ruling had "set a strong precedent for similar action across Europe".