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Mexico Slashes Car Use

In 1989 Mexico City became the first capital city to introduce a permanent limit on car use. Ramon Ojeda Mestre was behind the bold initiative that helped reduce pollution.

In the 1970s and 80s a deadly cocktail of toxic factory fumes and car pollution turned Mexico City into the world鈥檚 most polluted city. In response, the authorities came up with an ambitious solution: curb the use of each of the city鈥檚 two million cars for one day a week, the first time any country had tried such a bold plan.
Ramon Ojeda Mestre is an environmentalist who was behind the initiative, introduced in November 1989. He tells Mike Lanchin about overcoming fierce opposition to the plan, and how some critics even predicted riots from irate motorists.

(Photo credit: Alamy)

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9 minutes

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Wed 8 Mar 2017 13:50GMT

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  • Wed 8 Mar 2017 08:50GMT
  • Wed 8 Mar 2017 13:50GMT

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