Environmental Contingency Declared on First day of Driving Restrictions

At five p.m., air pollution measured above 150 points on the Metropolitan Air Quality Index (Imeca) scale, triggering a Phase 1 Environmental Contingency. The main air pollutant is ozone. Air quality was worst in the Tlalpan borough, at 156 Imeca points, and the Cuajimalpa borough, at 151 Imeca points. The rest of the Valley of Mexico also has dangerously high levels of ozone.

Air pollution in northwest Mexico City was measured at 143 Imeca points, at 136 in the southwest and center, and 110 in the northeast. Environmental conditions are forecasted to be unfavorable to dispersal of the pollution until June 30. As long as the Phase 1 Contingency is in effect, drivers will face circulation restrictions in addition to the April 5 – June 30 restrictions. If air pollution rises above 200 Imeca points, a Phase 2 Contingency would be triggered, which would restrict circulation of 50 percent of vehicles.

On Wednesday, April 6, as long as the Phase 1 Contingency remains in effect, vehicles with red or blue stickers and plates ending in 3, 4, 9 or 0 may not circulate. Also, cement, pharmaceutical, chemical, hydrocarbon and electricity industries must reduce emissions of pollutants by between 30 and 40 percent

At a meeting of the Megalopolis Environmental Commission (CAMe) today, members stressed that the measures had been decided on by all the governments that make up the Megalopolis.