Senator Proposes Zero-Emission Fleets to Combat Air Pollution

Green Party (PVEM) Senator María del Rocío Corona has introduced a proposal that would require all public vehicle procurement to meet new sustainability criteria. The proposal seeks to mandate the transition of government fleets to zero- or low-emission vehicles as a response to the public health risks associated with Mexico’s high levels of air pollution.

Corona says that the initiative would reform the Law on Acquisitions, Leases, and Services of the Public Sector to obligate federal agencies and public entities to prioritize vehicles with zero or low emissions when purchasing or leasing fleet units. Under the proposal, sustainability would become a mandatory criterion in public contracting processes involving vehicles.

“This reform would allow public procurement policy to be harmonized with environmental protection,” says Corona, adding that the measure seeks to reduce pollution-related diseases and deaths while advancing a more sustainable mobility model from within the state.

Mexico faces mounting challenges linked to vehicle-related pollution. The national vehicle fleet exceeds 58 million motorized units, contributing to congestion, productivity losses, and air quality deterioration in urban areas, according Corona. She adds that the accelerated growth of the vehicle fleet represents one of the country’s main environmental challenges.

According to the World Bank, air pollution kills nearly 33,000 Mexicans every year, causing one in 17 (5.9%) of all deaths in the country. About 20,000 of these deaths are due to outdoor air pollution, mainly in towns and cities. While most of this pollution is caused by outdated, gasoline-powered public transport and freight vehicles, aging infrastructure also plays a significant role. A three-year study by the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) found that fuel consumption increases when driving on deteriorated roads, rising 60% in heavy vehicles, up to 48% in light vehicles, and up to 71% in passenger buses.

The effect of increased fuel consumption and pollution on citizens is significant. In August, a study from the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC) and the Spanish Heart Foundation (FEC) recorded 22 additional heart attacks per 1,000 hospitalizations following exposure to particle concentrations exceeding 10µg/m,. When particle concentrations reached 25µg/m3, the risk of dying during hospitalization due to a heart attack rose by 14%.

State authorities in Mexico are taking concerted actions to reduce the impact of bad air quality. In September, the Sonoran Ministry of Public Health launched a new Environmental Health Directorate aimed at preventing and controlling environmental factors that affect human health, including through monitoring risks related to air pollution. The state became the first in Mexico with a dedicated agency focused solely on this area.

Meanwhile, in Nuevo Leon, the state government has established a Metropolitan Environmental Commission to address the high levels of air pollution recorded in Monterrey. In addition, the city’s Environmental Monitoring System (SIMA) is undergoing maintenance with an investment of MX$14 million (US$690,000) to provide more accurate information on air quality indices. According to a study by the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC), residents of Monterrey experience poor air quality 240 days a year, with PM10 particles being the most frequently non-compliant pollutant, followed by ozone and sulfur dioxide.