Mexico City Bans Over One Million Cars as Air Pollution Skyrockets Lacy Cooke - Inhabitat
go to original March 17, 2016

Update: Mexico City’s Smog Crisis Ends. Political Wrangling Just Starting. (Associated Press)

In the midst of an air pollution crisis, Mexico City just banned over one million cars. Ozone levels rocketed to almost double the standard parameters, so to incentivize people to stop driving, the authorities offered free subway or bus rides.

It’s a disappointing step backward for Mexico City, which struggled with pollution through the 90’s – in 1992 the UN said Mexico City had the most polluted air in the world. To clear the air, the city enacted mandatory smog checks and sought to take old, polluting cars off the road. For the past 11 years, the government didn’t have to issue any pollution alerts.

Yet last year a court eased up on the rules, and now Mexico City and the surrounding valley are crippled by a fourth day of stifling, unhealthy smog. Residents are wearing masks or scarves over their mouths and noses, and many children can’t play outside at recess.

Still, some people drove. Out of the 1.1 million cars banned, only around 800,000 followed the imperative, said Mayor Miguel Ángel Mancera.

Read the rest at Inhabitat

Related: President Pena Nieto Calls for Measures to Address Air Pollution (The Daily Herald)

Related: Polluted Environment Is Responsible for One-Quarter of Global Deaths (TakePart)

Photo: Wikipedia

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