Towards a better understanding of urban air quality management capabilities in Latin America

Abstract

Urban air quality management (AQM) refers to the activities aimed at reducing air pollution in order to protect human health and the environment in a city. This work presents the formulation of the Urban Air Quality Management Capabilities Index (CECA) and the results of its pilot application in ten Latin American cities. CECA offers a comprehensive and systematic analysis of a city's capacity to formulate and implement air quality management strategies. It is comprised of 31 indicators classed across nine dimensions and three main components (technical capabilities, data capabilities, exploiting capabilities). We defined a specific scoring scale for each indicator. Scores in the scale were determined from surveys administered to local authorities and experts. The pilot application of CECA in Latin America demonstrated that the index provides relevant information on the needs and possibilities for cities to implement primary and rapid actions to reduce air pollution. Within the ten pilot cities, Mexico City and Santiago stand out for leading AQM capabilities. They have integrated technical knowledge into long-term AQM plans and implementation strategies. Consequently, both cities have managed to strengthen their institutions and policies to set effective command and control mechanisms, while proposing incentives for technological improvements. The group of cities with CECA intermediate and low scores evidenced that AQM is starting to emerge in the region. An essential aspect to improve across such cities is the transition to a comprehensive AQM, that goes much further than monitoring. Continuous assessment is needed to improve urban capabilities to address air pollution and to promote interactions among cities in finding solutions. Furthermore, CECA approach encourages cities to prioritize urban AQM, while fosters a comprehensive view and multisector action at local, regional and national scales.