A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development of the 21st Century

Delivering Effective Urban Managementaddition, the average hours per day that the ozone standard is above the norm has also fallen--from an average of 4.9 hours per day in 1990, to just 1.5 hours per day in 2009. In 2010 this largecity of about 20 million citizens no longer ranked among the top 10 cities with the world's worstair quality. 41In 2006, Mexico City developed its 15-year Plan Verde to reduce carbon emissions by sevenmillion metric tons between 2008 and 2012. Nearly 20 city agencies are working together tooptimize the city’s $1 billion-per-year investment in the plan, which represents about seven percent of Mexico City’s total yearly budget. 42 In addition to bettering air quality, the plan has othermajor goals. Plan Verde includes what it refers to as “seven pillars”:1. land conservation;2. public spaces;3. air pollution;4. waste management and recycling;5. water supply and sanitation;6. climate action planning; and7. transportation and mobility.Plan Verde includes major financial investments in public transportation, recycling programmes,and in developing new green spaces. The city’s efforts to control atmospheric pollutants includereplacing aging taxis, microbuses and government fleets with lower emission vehicles,introducing a bike-sharing programme, and building a world-class bus rapid transit system. Inaddressing its regional air quality challenges, the city was able to significantly impact its globalgreenhouse gas emissions. Mexico City reported reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2 per cent41 “Mexico City presents comprehensive plan to tackle environmental conditions,” City Mayors, 1 May 2010,http://www.citymayors.com/environment/mexico-green-plan.html42 “Experience Green Living,” Mexico City Plan Verde website. Accessed 20 August 2010:http://www.mexicocityexperience.com/green_living/26