2025 Reports

Tools and Strategies for Decision-making on Climate Change, Air Quality and Sustainable Development in the Megalopolis of the Valley of Mexico

Martínez-Arroyo, Amparo; Espino Ruiz, Juan Felipe; Saniger-Blesa, José Manuel

Cities are particularly sensitive to climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. The Megalopolis of the Valley of Mexico (MVM) is one of the largest urban and populated areas worldwide. It harbors more than 30 million people who already struggle with issues like water availability, loss of ecosystems, pollution, and urban heat islands (UHI). Preliminary results show that the UHI warming already exceeds 3ºC in some parts of the MVM, and that the outskirts of consolidated urban areas exhibit the largest local warming trends. We found that per capita urban land nowadays is higher than 30 years ago and that in the future, cities in the MVM will grow more rapidly than the population. Our projections suggest that urban expansion will increase the risks of ecosystem loss, pollution, and the joint effects of global and local warming. Tools and strategies for decision makers are being made available to help prioritize local strategies like reinforcing protected areas and green corridors and promoting city-wide cool roofs to reduce the impacts of UHI.