Mario J. Molina and Luisa T. Molina are Nobel Peace Prize winners and are experts in the field of air pollution, and have conducted a study into the issue adversely affecting the Mexico city metropolitan area.
Mario and Luisa Molina have both been very important in the study of the air quality in Mexico city, their studies having found and interpreted many important statistics that show the severity of the air pollution. They have also proposed some solutions of their own for the issue, and they include short-term, medium-term and long term. They are as follows:
Criteria affecting overall success of solution
We have developed a set of criteria which we will apply to solutions proposed in order to determine the overall success of the proposed solution. The criteria are as follows:
- Reduction in air pollution
- benefits to health
- Cost in proportion to effectiveness
short term |
EFfectiveness of these suggestions |
Mario and Luisa and prescribed a series of short term solutions for the issue. Some of these include making the emission levels open for public viewing and use. This should allow the public to see the public for themselves, and perhaps spur some sort of counter-pollution motion. Other ideas include replacing old buses and cars with ones that incorporate the catalytic converter, a device within a vehicle that reduces the severity of the emissions.
Figure 4.1: Here is a photograph of a common catalytic converter. Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/DodgeCatCon.jpg |
Allowing the public to see emission levels would overall, not reduce air pollution as while it would likely improve public knowledge of the issue. Unless a large movement is started, the city will not change it's ways. No observable negative effects come with releasing emission level information, and the cost in proportion to effectiveness is fairly good, as while the effectiveness is most likely low, the cost is also low, making it a rather risk-free option that the government can try to implement.
Replacing old vehicles with newer ones that include the catalytic converter, would work fairly well. Many vehicles in Mexico city still don't contain the catalytic converter, despite it being a mandatory car component, as only since 1993 did new cars require the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is an extremely efficient way to convert toxic pollutants into less toxic ones. The cost of replacing the older cars in the city with newer models utilizing the catalytic converter, however, could end up piling up to a large sum. Therefore this solution could end up being fairly poor when it comes to the cost in proportion to effectiveness , as the drivers who operate the older vehicles would have to pay out of their own pocket in order to update their private vehicles. The cost of this solution would be very high, as you would have to purchase a new car, since it is near impossible to install a catalytic converter on an older car. However if the citizens did in fact convert to the newer models of cars, the effect would likely be outstanding. Catalytic converters can convert up to 99% of the harmful chemicals that a car produces into less harmful chemicals, by catalyzing a redox reaction. Reduction of chemicals and particle matter would improve health greatly in the mexico city metropolitan area. Overall this solution is a low-risk high reward solution. The primary problem with this solution is that it would likely be difficult to persuade citizens of the city to agree to replace their cars, as many may not care about the air quality problems. |
medium-termIn terms of medium-term solutions, Mario and Luisa suggested that private vehicle use should be prohibited or restricted. Mario and Luisa have also suggested that there should be some areas which prohibit private vehicles to be used within it's boundaries. They have also discouraged single passenger trips, in order to lower the total amount of trips made on a daily basis. Another suggestion was that the sulfur levels in fuel could be reduced, lowering the total amount of hazardous emissions.
Figure 4.2: Image depicting a sign describing the introduction of ULSD. Source: http://www.bajaquest.com/fuel/images/ulsd-image.jpg |
EffectiveNess of these SuggestionsRestricting private vehicle use has already been attempted by the Mexican government in their project "Hoy no Circula". More information about the Hoy no Circula can be found here. Discouraging single passenger trips is a fairly good suggestion. it would reduce the amount of trips made in a day, and has no adverse side effects. It's price in proportion to effectiveness would be excellent, as it would actually save money for the citizens in fuel costs. If the citizens do, the effects should be an overall increase in public health. In general this solution would be worth attempting, as it appears to be a low-risk medium reward solution. Creating and implementing a fuel type with lower sulfur levels is certainly possible; it has been done before with diesel fuels, resulting in ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD). The cost in proportion to efficiency is perhaps above average as it while it would cost a fair amount to formulate the new fuel type. However as shown by ULSD, reduction in sulfur with result in a great reduction in air pollutants produced by the burning of the fuel. Therefore health would be improved greatly over the course of the implementation of the low sulfur fuel. Overall this suggestion is a viable one. Current examples of the idea have shown that it clearly reduction in air pollution. The cost is somewhat unpredictable, as it is impossible to predict how difficult it is to create a fuel of this kind as it may include scientific support and testing. This suggestion could be worth trying, depending on the overall cost of the creation and implementation of the fuel. |
long-termLong term suggestions proposed by Mario and Luisa Molina include giving public transport dedicated lanes, therefore improving the quality of public transport, and in theory, improve the amount of commuters in public transport. They have also recommended that the government should promote multi-transport tickets, likely pining for the public transport industry to thrive.
Figure 4.3: an photograph showing an example of a dedicated bus lane alongside private vehicle lanes in Geelong, Victoria in Australia. Source: http://railgallery.wongm.com/cache/melbourne-buses/E117_1610_500.jpg |
Effectiveness of these SuggestionsGiving public transport dedicated lanes is an interesting recommendation. It would allow for public transport to reach greater levels, making it much more versatile and likely much more accessible. However this would mean that private vehicles would have a much more restricted area of movement, thus as a result could displease the general public. This idea is flawed in the fact that even if public transport is improved greatly, there will still be a large amount of people who travel through private vehicles due to privacy, reliability, and security reasons. This means that with the reduced space to maneuver, traffic incidents and traffic jams are very likely to increase. It would also cost the government a large amount to advertising the new changes, and redesigning the city's road structures to fit the new changes. Because of this, new roads would most likely have to be built. On the other hand, a larger percentage of the population will be forced to utilize the public transport system. This would, in theory, reduce the air pollution by a high amount, as the primary factor in air pollution in Mexico city is the particle matter generated by private vehicle use. This idea however, has been implemented in many developed countries to a great effect. However in those countries, the lanes were planned before-hand, and therefore eliminating the need for a redesign. Overall this suggestion is most likely not worth the cost, as it would cost an enormous amount to change the infrastructure of the city's roads, as this issue over weighs the solution.
Promoting multi-transport tickets is following the same type of idea as the previous solution; increasing commuters in public transport. This idea would cost fairly little for the government, and would increase the amount of commuters in the public transport system. Overall this idea will improve health in the city,but results may vary, depending on how successful the plan is. If the tickets are cheap enough, then perhaps the city will begin to participate in the public transport system more. Overall this idea is a low-cost low-reward solution, and is definitely worth trying, as it may produce some noticeable results without too much investment. |