In recent days, Mexico City has experienced pollution levels reaching 150 points on the Air Quality Index in various areas, such as Nezahualcóyotl in the State of Mexico. On May 13 of this year, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum reported that while hazy conditions and low visibility prevailed in the nation's capital, an environmental contingency had not yet been declared.
The current pollution crisis in Mexico City is the result of multiple factors, including natural disasters, poor management, and the lack of an environmental plan to regulate air quality. According to a report by the Heroic Fire Department, 23 fires were recorded in a single day, mostly located in the boroughs of Xochimilco, Álvaro Obregón, and Tláhuac. This triggered high temperatures and air pollution across Mexico City, leaving the capital blanketed in a thick haze.
This is compounded by recent tree clearing by major developers, as seen in the case of the Mitikah tower in Coyoacán, where nearly 54 trees were cut down. Moreover, poor mobility management has allowed private vehicle use to rise; following the change in administration, new vehicle emissions testing regulations were implemented that do not address fine particulate emissions, prompting citizens to secure court injunctions.
Ciudad de México, hoy a las 4pm. pic.twitter.com/VTIdj4STRd
— Santiago Arau (@Santiago_Arau) 13 de mayo de 2019
Today, after millions of residents endured this thick haze for more than four days, the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CAMe) activated an extraordinary environmental contingency plan for the Valley of Mexico, after recording 160 points of fine particulate matter. However, a plan to regulate mobility and vehicle use has not yet been implemented.
Review the full list of recommendations by CAMe here.
This article was written by Mónica Arellano. The translation is powered by AI.
