News 16 October 2024
At Bloomberg CityLab, Mexico City announced it has joined the Breathe Cities initiative as part of its efforts to improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and boost public health. This will see the city gain support with strengthening air quality data, community engagement, technical capacity building and sharing knowledge with other cities around the world.
Breathe Cities was announced in 2023 by Michael R. Bloomberg, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Sadiq Khan, London Mayor and C40 Cities Co-Chair. The initiative, which is delivered by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Clean Air Fund, and C40 Cities, brings together air quality data, communities, and city leaders to share their learnings and scale local impact, to tackle urban air pollution on a global scale.
Mexico City is the third city this year to join the global initiative, which now includes 14 cities overall. This includes Accra, Ghana; Bogotá, Colombia; Bangkok, Thailand; Brussels, Belgium; Jakarta, Indonesia; Johannesburg, South Africa; London, United Kingdom; Milan, Italy; Nairobi, Kenya; Paris, France; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sofia, Bulgaria; and Warsaw, Poland. By providing cities with greater access to air quality data to support the development of tailored policies and local activities, Breathe Cities aims to reduce air pollution by 30% on average across its participating cities by 2030.
I am excited to learn and share best practices with others in the Breathe Cities cohort dedicated to the task of sustainable, equitable, and innovative urban spaces. As city leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure that cities live up to their purpose of creating better communities and better spaces. Mexico City is going through a great transformation of its public space. From investments in sustainable, non-motor mobility, like cycling, and community-focused city planning like our utopias, Mexico City’s 9 million inhabitants will benefit from more resilient and fair infrastructure.
Clara Brugada, Mayor of Mexico City
Globally, air pollution contributes to 8.1 million premature deaths each year, with some 41% of cities worldwide witnessing levels of toxic air over seven times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommendations. Mexico City is a leading force in Latin America for cleaner air and healthier urban environments, and it is working to consolidate its air quality network as the largest in the region.
The city’s firm support for electric mobility has seen the introduction of electric buses and paved the way for electric heavy-duty vehicles. Its focus on public transport and vulnerable populations has seen the development of new cable bus lines, and it has promoted more active travel through a bike-sharing program and hundreds of kilometers of new cycle lanes. It has also expanded public-private collaboration on the replacement of old diesel freight with less polluting technologies.
These efforts have resulted in significant air quality benefits to date. The collaboration with Breathe Cities aims to build on this success, with Mexico City invited to join the cohort due to the city’s strong commitment and leadership tackling air pollution, as well as meeting a range of criteria.
By joining Breathe Cities, Mexico City is reinforcing its dedication to tackling toxic air for both people and planet. As the initiative grows in Latin America, we hope Mexico City will inspire others in the region and beyond to join the clean air movement and deliver a healthier, fairer future.
Jaime Pumarejo, Executive Director of Breathe Cities
We are excited to see the transformative impact that targeted air quality interventions can have on both public health and the environment in Mexico City as it joins the Breathe Cities initiative. This collaboration underscores our commitment to empowering cities with the data and resources they need to combat air pollution and create healthier, more sustainable urban environments.
Antha Williams, Lead – Environment Program, Bloomberg Philanthropies
I’m thrilled to welcome Mexico City to the Breathe Cities initiative. This vibrant metropolis is at the forefront of the global movement for cleaner air; epitomised by the introduction of more than 400 electric trolleybuses since 2019 and the success of the Ecobici bike-sharing program, featuring over 240km of newly constructed cycle lanes. These achievements highlight how cities can transform mobility and the health of residents by supporting people in walking, cycling and using public transport. By joining Breathe Cities, Mexico City sets a powerful example for cities everywhere. We look forward to collaborating in creating a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.
Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities
As the latest addition to the Breathe Cities initiative, Mexico City can harness the significant health and climate benefits of clean air for its residents. We look forward to working closely with the city to ensure the strong evidence and community engagement needed to build impactful policies that can address air pollution at its source.
Jane Burston, CEO, Clean Air Fund
