From homo sapiens to homo automobilis. Revisiting air quality management in México City

Abstract

Numero 121 Enero - Abril 2008 ISSN 0041 8633 FROM HOMO SAPIENS TO HOMO AUTOMOBILIS . REVISITING AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN MEXICO CITY * Cesar NAVA ESCUDERO ** This paper describes fifteen years (1990-2005) of air quality management in Mexico City. By looking at three interlinked issues (urban and population growth; the current air quality situation; and road vehicle emissions) it concludes that as long as Mexican authorities continue to rely on the introduction of new technologies and the implementation of diverse but insufficient traffic management schemes and to disregard the importance of seriously compromising on public transport rather than on road building expansion, improved air quality in Mexico City can only be moderately achieved. Descriptors: air quality management (1990-2005), road vehicle emissions, private cars, Mexico City. * Articulo recibido el 27 de abril de 2007 y aceptado el 3 de agosto de 2007. Paper presented at Urban Governance in Global Perspective International Workshop , University of Southern California, United States of America, September 17-18, 2004. It has been revised and updated for publication purposes. ** First degree in Law (UNAM, Mexico); MA in Public Administration (University of Exeter, England); PhD (London School of Economics, University of London, United Kingdom). Currently, full-time researcher at the Institute of Legal Research (UNAM, Mexico). * Nota: Debido que la traduccion es automatica podra ser inexacta o contener errores.