A tale of two cities : the regulation of particulate air pollution in Mexico City and Los Angeles

Abstract

Mexico City and Los Angeles have employed very similar air pollution abatement programs yet their results have been disparate. Particulate and ozone pollution levels have been significantly reduced in Los Angeles but not in Mexico City. The reasons for this difference in effectiveness are specific to each context. The implementing agencies in Mexico City lack the requisite institutional capacity, political resources and financial resources to adequately address the particulate and ozone air pollution problem. Subsequently, any policies aimed at reducing the particulate levels in Mexico City need to be tailored towards overcoming these institutional barriers. Policies that can accommodate these constraints include creating an independent, autonomous regulatory agency, increasing environmental education and activism at a grass roots level and coupling health and environmental concerns so that air pollution abatement programs provide net fiscal benefits.