Mexico City Advances Sustainable Mobility in Climate Plans

Mexico City is advancing its climate and air quality strategies with a focus on sustainable mobility, according to officials who gathered for the second participatory workshop on updating the city's Climate Action Program (PACCM) and Air Quality Management Program (ProAire) for 2025-2030.

“We are convinced that transforming mobility models and transitioning to a low-emission city requires open and participatory dialogue toward designing an ambitious and innovative Climate Action Program,” says Roberto Castillo, Director General of Coordination of Environmental Policy and Culture, Ministry of the Environment (SEDEMA). Mobility accounts for 73% of Mexico City’s greenhouse gas emissions, says Castillo. He adds that promoting efficient public transport, investing in active mobility, and transitioning to low-emission vehicles are priorities for the city’s climate action commitments.

The workshop, organized by SEDEMA in coordination with the Ministry of Mobility (SEMOVI), brought together around 120 participants, including federal and city government representatives, civil society organizations, academia, international cooperation agencies, and the private sector.

Gabriel Pérez, Director General of Air Quality, addressed the challenges of managing mobility in Mexico City. He called for stricter vehicle standards, a shift in the energy matrix, control of black carbon emissions, and regulatory updates for technological renewal. Pérez also highlighted the need to reduce fine particles and ozone levels, which often exceed safe limits during warm seasons, impacting air quality and health.

“Mobility is social; it involves people, not just vehicles. We must build new ways of sharing public space to guarantee the right to the city,” says Alejandra Álvarez, Director General of Monitoring, Projects, and Strategic Mobility Affairs, SEMOVI.

Transportation is central to sustainable urban development, says Marianely Patlán, Senior Mobility Manager, C40 Cities Network. She highlights Mexico City’s participation in technical assistance projects on electromobility, active mobility, and freight transport decarbonization as part of its two decades of collaboration with the network.

During the workshop, participants reviewed a proposal to harmonize three key planning instruments: the PACCM, ProAire, and the Comprehensive Mobility Program (PIM). Castillo said that updating the PACCM aims to increase climate ambition, encourage greater participation from the private sector and citizens, and strengthen adaptation targets to build a more resilient city.

Mobility is also a matter of climate justice, says Ana Mendívil, Director of Climate Change, SEDEMA. She adds that while 80% of trips in the city are made using public transport — responsible for less than 30% of carbon emissions — private motorized transport, which accounts for 20% of trips, contributes 60% of local emissions. Mendívil calls for sustainable mobility proposals that integrate land-use planning, strategic urban activity planning, reduced travel times, efficient use of public space, and consideration of social, economic, and gender aspects.

SEMOVI’s key mobility initiatives include sustainable public transport through metropolitan projects and micro-routes, regulatory and urban planning harmonization, vehicle fleet maintenance, clean technology adoption such as electromobility, and support for active mobility, says Álvarez.