Cities across Italy are taking measures to halt the rise of severely high levels of smog witnessed in recent weeks.
The environment minister launched a €12 million fund for city councils to spend on public transport and car-sharing initiatives.
The fund itself was one of several initiatives proposed at a special meeting for regional leaders and mayors to development a three-year plan to fight the smog which is proving to be a health hazard.
Doctors in Rome report an increase of more than 30% in GP appointments after dangerous pollution levels rose as the pollution renders the respiratory system more susceptible to infections.
Other proposals include a two degree drop in home heating, cutting the speed limit by 20kms/hr and reducing the cost of public transport.
Rome has begun to ban cars with even-numbered licence plates on alternate days. This measure was used three times in December but the readings showed the effect was limited and the dangerous particulate matter in the atmosphere remained high.
After 31 days in a row of dangerous pollution levels, Milan set a partial ban on private vehicles while Florence outlawed cars in the city centre for three days.
Traffic restrictions in the southern city of Naples permitted vehicles which operate to an emissions standard known as Euro 4 are allowed this week.
Consumer group Codacons described the car bans as "a true failure" and urged the government to make public transport in Italy's major cities free during rush hour.
Italy is the worst affected country in the EU for air pollution-related deaths, according to last month’s report from the European Environment Agency.
Out of a total 491,000 pollution-related deaths in 2012 across the EU, 84,000 were in Italy.
Some 59,000 premature deaths in Italy that year were attributable to fine particulate matter exposure.
