Air Quality and Public Health: Mexico City
2016
This case explores Mexico City’s efforts to reduce air pollution through the Hoy No Circula program (HNC), also known as No-drive days, a policy controlling vehicular traffic first implemented in 1989. Mexico City, one of the largest urban centers in the world with 22 million inhabitants, has long been afflicted by severe air pollution. In June 2014, Tanya Müller Garcia, Secretary of Environment (SEDEMA) of the government of Mexico City announced a controversial step to tighten the program. The additional restrictions she introduced were particularly unpopular because they seemed to fall disproportionately on the lower socio-economic groups in the area. Protesters reacted strongly and blockaded main avenues and access routes into the city for several days, causing massive disruptions. The case follows Secretary Müller as she faced increasing pressure to evaluate both the HNC program and SEDEMA’s approach to controlling air pollution in general.
The case is one in a series of cases developed by and for the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Case-Based Teaching and Learning Center.
Air Quality and Public Health: Mexico City
Source:
Gutiérrez-Avila I et al. Air Quality and Public Health in Megacities: Has Air Quality Improved Due to Driving Restrictions in Mexico City? Case No. PH6-021. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 2016. https://caseresources.hsph.harvard.edu/publications/air-quality-and-public-health-megacities-has-air-quality-improved.