The “Hoy no Circula” program is not the only alternative to solve the pollution problem, recognized Mexico City Mayor Miguel Ángel Mancera.
While heading the installation of the Scientific and Technical committee for counseling and vigilance on Atmospheric Pollution, the mayor announced that there are other measures under analysis for implementation to improve the air quality. This came in response to the criticism from the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (Imco) on the fact the Hoy no Circula applied to all cars irrespective of their stickers, due to the environmental situation.
“Today we know, and we wish to reiterate that the ‘Hoy no Circula’ program is not the only solution that can lead us to a better situation. The ‘Hoy no Circula’ is a part, but we have to turn to the industry, to the service sector, turn to the interactions within a city that contains 5,5 million vehicles and over 20 millions people living side by side by side. It is a megalopolis.”
He pointed out that this committee integrated by health and environment specialists from universities represents a great chance to examine which are the preventive actions that can be efficient to diminish the level of pollution in the valley of Mexico.
In this context, Mancera considered that Health Secretary José Narro Robles should participate in the working sessions of the The Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CAMe), as the issue raises health problems.
“The Health Secretariat should have a chair in the CAMe, because I don’t understand that, if we are talking about public health, the most important authority on health in our country is not a part. I am sure, and I am proposing it now, that Dr. Narro would be a very important part of the decisions that will continue to be taken.”
The mayor pointed out that, unlike in the 90’s, there are currently greater demands on the levels of pollutants, underlining that the capital’s government had a clear course of action and knew the goals it needed to reach to combat climate change, a goal to which green funds could be allocated, to which state members of the megalopolis could access to renovate public transport, reduce polluting emissions from the industry and even create courses on environmental education in schools.
“Today we know, and we wish to reiterate that the ‘Hoy no Circula’ program is not the only solution that can lead us to a better situation. The ‘Hoy no Circula’ is a part, but we have to turn to the industry, to the service sector, turn to the interactions within a city that contains 5,5 million vehicles and over 20 millions people living side by side by side. It is a megalopolis.”
-Miguel Ángel Mancera, Mayor of Mexico City.
