It is one of the most frightening feelings: the feeling of not being able to breathe. Literally, I have not been able to breathe for the last few days in Mexico-City.

Environmental alarm in Mexico City – Tweet by Santiago Arau on 14/05/19 © Santiago Arau

The first few weeks in Mexico City, with the knowledge of the poor air quality, to my surprise I had no complaints at all. A Scottish woman I had met had told me that she was moving back to Europe after 3 years in Mexico City because she was increasingly suffering from breathing problems. At that time, I could not really imagine it.

One weekend it started to smell more and more like smoke in the city. Exactly on this weekend, the fine dust pollution in Mexico City was higher than it had been for years. The reason for the even higher pollution than usual was forest fires all over Mexico combined with high temperatures, the lack of wind and no rain. The whole city felt it on its breath, even Mexicans who are used to “bad air”. The mayor of CDMX called for emergency measures only after 6 days. First, the children were no longer allowed outside during school breaks, then the public schools were closed completely. Presumably also to reduce car traffic, which was restricted as much as possible.

SRF appropriately chooses the title “The air is thick in Mexico City”: https://www.srf.ch/news/panorama/hitze-duerre-und-waldbraende-in-mexiko-stadt-herrscht-dicke-luft

The poor air quality on those days quite affected me, as it did many others. One architect told me that his co-workers were coughing and complaining of fatigue. It seems to me that the fine dust went straight into my lungs. It actually felt like smoking way too much. I had a nasty cough for a week. But the most unpleasant thing is the feeling that remains: I no longer trust this air. I don’t know what I’m breathing in here and how harmful this air is for me. I am exposed to this air and thus also to the environmental policy of this country.

According to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s 2017 climate report, Mexico has set itself ambitious climate protection goals: “By 2050, 50 percent of electricity should come from renewable energy sources.” It goes on to write “The expansion of the public transport system and the promotion of investments in electricity-powered vehicles are also important. Alongside this, the construction of sustainable and more energy-efficient buildings is to be favoured in the building sector.”

The awareness of climate protection seems to me to be there. Perhaps precisely because the population in Mexico City is really feeling it.

As far as I could tell, the emergency measures were accepted with understanding in mid-May. The mayor was even criticised for not having taken measures earlier.

There are also more and more bicycle or e-scooter riders on the road. The city’s bike rental system “Ecobici” can now be found on every second corner and is apparently much used – despite bumps and many potholes. A company that wants to start an e-bike rental system in Mexico City soon expects great interest from the population. For more than 8 years now, the large avenue Paseo de la Reforma has been closed to car traffic every Sunday. This symbolic measure by the city administration delights thousands of cyclists and joggers.