Mexico City

Sector: Municipal Government

Carbon Footprint:

> 33,500,000 metric tonnes CO₂e (2004)

TARGETS

> Replace 80,000 of the city’s taxis with lower emission vehicles by 2006
> Improve water and energy efficiency of 75,000 social housing units
> Participate in emissions trading through the Chicago Climate Exchange
> Address the climate impacts of the transportation sector

Achievements

> Identified 85 emission reduction actions to be implemented over an eight year period

Benefits

> ‘Proaire’ programme integrates air quality and climate protection

Low Carbon Solutions

Background

The Federal District of Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world. While known for its air pollution problems, the metropolitan region is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 20% of the country’s total emissions. Mexico City alone is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Latin America (2.1% of total regional emissions).

Combining ambition and an innovative approach, Mexico City has undertaken ‘Proaire 2002-2010’, a new and comprehensive effort to integrate air quality and climate protection. The objective of the plan is to achieve significant reductions in both air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The measures in the plan were selected for their ability to cut emissions of both standard air pollutants such as nitrous and sulphur oxides, as well as greenhouse gases.

On the international level, Mexico City has participated in the design phase of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), a reduction and trading pilot programme for emission sources and offset projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Dr. Scheinbaum, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources for the Federal District, Mexico City explains: “Our participation supports the development of options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are both cost-effective and supportive of sustainable development. We are convinced that the CCX is a key opportunity to help the City of Mexico achieve sizeable emissions reduction.”

Improving the efficiency of low income housing is a key priority for Mexico City. There are plans to install water and energy efficiency systems into 30,000 new social housing units and retrofitted into 45,000 existing units over a three year period. The measures include installing compact fluorescent bulbs, low-flow showerheads, and tap aerators. The estimated emissions reduction from these changes is 31,000 tonnes CO₂ per year. Over a five year period, the city also plans to install solar-powered heating systems in 50,000 new social housing units, with expected reductions of 24,900 tonnes CO₂ per year.

Mexico City has identified over 85 air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions reduction actions to be implemented over an eight year period. These include energy efficiency improvements, protection of forests and green spaces, and public transportation enhancements. Under the direction of Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources for the Federal District, Mexico City has enlisted a number of key partners to help with the project’s implementation. Participants include: the electricity, water and public transportation utilities; the French Fund for the Environment; the World Bank; the Shell Foundation; the World Resources Institute; the Chicago Climate Exchange; and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).

Due to rapid growth patterns it has been hard for Mexico City to establish an emissions reduction target. It is estimated that CO₂ emissions alone will reach 66 million tonnes by 2012. The Federal District’s current objective is to aim for a lower rate of emissions growth, rather than an absolute reduction.

As a participant in ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection campaign, Mexico City has undertaken the programme’s five Milestones, which include a baseline inventory, reduction goal, action plan, measures implementation, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. To accomplish the final Milestone, Mexico City has developed a monitoring plan for every project that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a standard format of data collection.

The transportation sector is the primary source of emissions in Mexico City. In 2000 the city generated 51 million tonnes of CO₂. Of this total, the transportation sector accounted for 37%, compared to 31% from the industrial sector, 16% from the residential sector, 6% from power generation, and 8% from commercial activity. As transportation is also the largest source of air pollution emissions, many of the measures undertaken by the city focus on vehicle and other transport improvements.

There are currently about 109,400 taxis functioning in Mexico City, of which 56% are 1992 models or older, making them exempt from the emissions regulation system. The Federal District plans to replace 80,000 older models over the time period 2001-2006. The City’s programme pays 15,000 pesos (about US$1,300) for each old vehicle and the owner pays the difference in price for acquiring a new lower emissions vehicle. Once all of these vehicles have been replaced it is estimated that daily emissions from taxis will be reduced by about 31%.

Mexico City is also about to begin an ambitious project under EMBARQ (the World Resources Institute Centre for Transport and the Environment). The goal is to improve the city’s infamous traffic congestion by opening dedicated traffic lanes to run fuel-efficient, high-capacity buses. The bus rapid transit scheme is being funded with $5.8 million from the World Bank, $1 million from the Shell Foundation, and $2 million from bus assembling firms (Volvo, Scania, Mercedes Benz and Freightliner among others). Estimated benefits include considerably reduced commute time for bus riders (World Bank calculates by 32%), a reduction in traffic accidents as well as lowered emissions due to more efficient trips.

The primary source of greenhouse gas emissions in Mexico City is from the transport sector. There is a plan to improve congestion by opening dedicated traffic lanes to run fuel efficient high capacity buses.

©Embarq

With a population of 18 million, the Mexico City Metropolitan Area ranks as one of the world’s largest ‘megacities’. ©Edward Parker

Mexico City accounts for 20% of Mexico’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

©Edward Parker

Mexico City has made a new and comprehensive effort to achieve significant reductions in both air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. ©Mark Edwards, Embarq