Tijuana’s air quality as poor as Mexico City, environmental group says

Air Quality in Tijuana Reaches Critical Levels

SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The air quality in Tijuana has reached “critical levels” during the first quarter of 2024, especially in areas near the border.

Causes of Air Pollution

• Vehicular traffic near downtown Tijuana and along Zona Rio

Carlos Bustamante, with Baja California’s Breathe Association, says the contamination is now as bad as Mexico City, which has some of the worst air pollution in Latin America, according to the World Health Organization.

Impact on Public Health

• Poor air quality affects the health of residents in Tijuana

Bustamante blames vehicular traffic near downtown Tijuana and along Zona Rio, an area many commuters drive through on their way to the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Recommendations for Improvement

1. Implementation of better strategies to curtail vehicle travel
2. Development of better public transportation options

“The city is experiencing an impressive number of car trips and has not implemented better strategies to curtail vehicle travel,” Bustamante said.

He says the main transit points to get into the United States are saturated with cars on a daily basis and Bustamente sees no short-term relief.

Current Air Quality Status

• Moderate to poor air quality is recorded on a daily basis

“Due to the complexity of the region, it’d be hard to mandate people don’t drive their cars. It’s time to, maybe, implement better public transportation options, although public transport is already saturated in the city, especially during rush hours,” he said.

Bustamante said if things don’t change, Tijuana will continue to climb up the charts when it comes to the most polluted cities in Mexico.

Comparison with Other Cities

• Tijuana is currently one step below Mexico City and six above Mexicali, Baja California’s capital city

“Tijuana is seeing three to five times the amount of permissible pollutants in that air daily that is recommended by the World Health Organization,” Bustamante added.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• SDG 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 3.9: Air quality index, levels of pollutants (e.g., PM2.5) in the air.
• Indicator for SDG 11.6: Air quality index, levels of pollutants (e.g., PM2.5) in the air, waste management practices.
• Indicator for SDG 13.1: Air quality index, levels of pollutants (e.g., PM2.5) in the air, resilience and adaptation measures to climate-related hazards.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

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Source: fox5sandiego.com

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