Mexico City Begins Process to Revise Climate, Air Programs

The Mexico City Ministry of Environment (SEDEMA) launched the first of five thematic workshops to update the city’s Climate Action Program (PACCM) and Air Quality Improvement Program (ProAire) for 2025-2030, focusing initially on sustainable energy. The event took place at the Coyotes Zoo Auditorium in the Coyoacan borough.

During the meeting, Julia Álvarez, Minister of the Environment, emphasized the urgency of transforming the capital into a sponge city to capture rainwater and reduce aquifer overexploitation amid increasingly intense weather events caused by climate change. “The planet offers a clear scenario to reflect and act. We need to accelerate the city’s transformation toward a truly sustainable model,” says Álvarez. She highlights that political will must translate into concrete, well-funded public policies that involve all sectors.

This first workshop aims to collaboratively develop emission mitigation and climate adaptation measures that integrate the PACCM and ProAire programs. Representatives from government, academia, private sector, and civil society participated in this multi-stakeholder governance exercise to identify and prioritize actions aligned with the city’s 2030 climate commitments.

Juan Pablo de Botton, Minister of Finance of Mexico City, says the city government’s climate commitment is reflected in fiscal policies, including an ecological CO₂ emissions tax to fund environmental projects and a green bond to finance initiatives with positive environmental impact. He also announced ongoing sectoral plans with business chambers to reduce emissions jointly with the private sector. The updated climate plan will include strong citizen participation and multisectoral shared responsibility.

Roberto Castillo, Director General of Policy and Environmental Culture Coordination, SEDEMA, highlights the relevance of participatory spaces to strengthen climate policy planning and implementation. He adds that the process, based on the 2021–2030 Climate Action Strategy, will address sustainable energy, energy efficiency, air quality, green jobs, and a just transition, with private sector involvement and clear adaptation targets.

Up to 70% of energy consumption in Mexico City comes from transportation, while the remaining 30% is associated with industrial, residential, commercial, and public buildings, says Ana Karen Mendivil, Climate Change Director, SEDEMA. The city emits approximately 30Mt of CO₂ equivalent annually from energy use alone, she adds.

Mendivil emphasizes three urgent lines of action: efficient solar-powered homes, buildings using clean energy and improved energy efficiency, and a progressive decarbonization with a focus on climate justice and green jobs.