Toward a Cleaner Sky: The Technology That Can Improve Air Quality

The problem of air pollution is increasingly worrying in Mexico, mainly in Mexico City and its metropolitan area, as well as in other large cities in the country, such as Monterrey and Guadalajara, and even in Puebla, Leon, and the Bajío area in general, where the combination of industry, traffic, fires and grassland fires (during certain periods) complicates the situation each year.

This leads to an increase in environmental contingencies, both in number and duration. In Mexico City, from having a single contingency during all of 2020 (thanks, in large part, to the confinement caused by COVID), we went on to add six contingencies in 2021; three each year between 2022 and 2023, and 12 in 2024, which meant an increase of 500% year-on-year.

How is 2026 going? In the first 77 days of the year, according to data from the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CAMe),[1] Mexico City and the State of Mexico have accumulated five environmental contingencies, which added up to 10 days under restriction measures ,such as the well-known Double Hoy No Circula (doubling what was recorded in the same period of 2025, according to press [2]reports). In a simple random exercise, on the day I wrote the introduction for this article (March 17), the Directorate of Atmospheric Monitoring[3] reported that the air quality in Mexico City due to ozone was bad, and the level of risk, high.

As we already know, air pollution wreaks havoc on people's health, both in the short and long term, including the likelihood of developing chronic respiratory diseases, among many others, but it can also have a negative impact on the health of businesses and the country's economy, as restrictions on mobility generate interruptions in supply chains, increasing planning costs and reducing productivity.

April: Reflecting on What Can Be Achieved

April 22 is Earth Day. The commemoration aims to raise awareness about the protection of the environment and biodiversity, as well as to promote sustainability and the reduction of pollution. It is an excellent time to emphasize that, in the face of conditions that are becoming more adverse, it is essential to move beyond reactive measures toward a transformative strategy.

The headline on this article questions the possibility of Mexico making its polluted skies cleaner and healthier. At Siemens we are sure that the opportunity exists; in fact, we have seen it in countries such as China, where innovation is transforming air quality in its megacities. Of course, taking this big step is not easy. It requires vision, collaboration, and persistence, as well as having the right technological solutions. Now, the question is how to achieve it.

In China, smart control systems help cities enforce emissions standards effectively and make data-driven decisions that protect people and planet alike. Modern gas analyzers are at the heart of the transformation, acting as early warning systems (by measuring contaminants in real time) preventing small problems from becoming bigger challenges. Certainly, they have undergone a remarkable evolution since the 1990s. Today, innovations such as continuous emission monitoring (CEM) equipment, tunable diode laser spectroscopy and AI-based software help optimize combustion, improve gas cleaning systems, and reduce the carbon footprint.

Why is this technology a priority? Because, when you have the right data, it is more feasible for leaders and planners to balance economic growth with sustainability, turning regulatory requirements into real opportunities for transformation and innovation, in any country.

In China, Siemens is collaborating with Beijing SDL Technology Co, Ltd, by integrating the ULTRAMAT 23 analyzer into its EMC systems, to provide oxygen (O) emissions measurements; nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), collectively known as NOx; sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) on a daily basis, in real time, and with high accuracy, so that megacities and industries have the confidence to take proactive action for cleaner air. The data speaks for itself: According to the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment, between 2013 and 2023, urban SO2 levels fell from 40 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³); NO2 emissions went from 44 to 22 μg/m³, and CO fell from 2.5 to 1 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m³).

China is an example that achieving an open sky is not an impossible dream when a change of vision has been achieved that is fueled by a lot of continuous learning, adaptation, and commitment, in addition to the smartest technologies.

Looking Ahead to 2030

Several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda[4], the master plan adopted by all UN member states to achieve a sustainable future, are crucial for companies seeking to reduce their emissions, improve environmental performance, and align themselves with this global agreement. For example, SDG 7, "Affordable and clean energy," proposes a migration to renewable energies, reducing operating costs for energy consumption, and achieving energy efficiency in buildings and processes. SDG 11, "Sustainable cities and communities," focuses on sustainable mobility, the reduction of urban emissions (NOx,  CO₂, and so on), and responsible management of impact in urban areas.

In this context, at Siemens we continue to make progress on DEGREE, our corporate sustainability framework. A fact to highlight is that the solutions positioned in the last three years will avoid 694 million tons of emissions over their lifetime, which is equivalent to Germany's total emissions in 2024. This is the second year in a row in which our customers have avoided more emissions than Siemens’ entire value chain. Similarly, sustainability training is also crucial, and we are proud to have supported more than 1 million people in our ecosystem with this task. The key is work.

In the end, the question is not whether Mexico can aspire to a cleaner sky, but how much government, industry and society are willing to transform themselves to achieve it. Technology, international experience, and global advances in sustainability show that the way exists. We must converge on a common vision, where innovation is the main ally. The challenge is just as great as the opportunity: to prove that a country can reinvent its environmental future by betting on the right strategy, with collaboration and commitment.

Sources:

[1] Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CAMe).

[2] "CDMX and Edomex are experiencing more contingencies in 2026: they already have twice as many days as last year," OEM said.

[3] "Air Quality and Meteorological Forecast for Mexico City", Directorate of Atmospheric Monitoring.

[4] "Sustainable Development Goals", UN.