More Sustainable Mobility in Mexico, How?

While there is growing public interest in transitioning towards more sustainable means of public transportation, the question of viability remains, particularly in a country like Mexico.

“Electric mobility is viewed as one of the ways to help transform mobility in support of sustainable development objectives and decarbonization goals. However, simply replacing, for example, the approximately 1 billion, and growing, fleet of conventional ICE cars with electric cars will not allow us to meet climate targets or address pressing global mobility problems like congestion, safety, and affordability,” reads the document ‘Sustainable Electric Mobility: Building Blocks and Policy Recommendations’ created by Sustainable Mobility for All (SuM4All)

The Sum4All initiative shares the seven building blocks that can be implemented in a country to create more successful public policies that impact mobility. The document was drafted after several expert interviews and groups suggestions into three different blocks of action, vision, policy and implementation. The building blocks are:

1. Building momentum: capitalizing on the power of vision and targets.

2. Raising awareness: building a narrative based on transparent information and multistakeholder engagement.

3. Setting the right policy framework: regulating the market and stimulating action.

4. Integrating mobility and energy policy for mutual benefit.

5. Pilot projects: taking guidance from local successful experiences.

6. Providing knowledge: capacity building and exchange of experience.

7. Developing the financing tools: developing financing mechanisms and business models.

There are different strategies that have been sought after by Mexico’s city governments to develop more sustainable mobility, as there is a sense of urgency when it comes to the implementation of solutions. “By 2030, it is necessary for 20 percent of land transport worldwide to be electric in order to contribute to the protection of the environment, mitigate the effects of climate change and comply with various international instruments on the matter," said Senator Miguel Ángel Mancera Espinosa, according to Portal Movilidad.

Mexico City has explored several options and has some of the most ambitious projects to generate and address more electric and sustainable mobility. One example of this is STE’s commitment to acquire 500 trolleybuses by 2024, which would improve the city’s electric infrastructure and support the development of stronger and better networks. This initiative would also enable the planning and development of new routes, which requires efforts from the private and public sectors.