This past August, my family and I traveled to Mexico City. We visited the sun and moon pyramids, the anthropology museum, the Frida Kahlo home and museum and craft and food markets, watched a folkloric ballet at the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) and explored our food palates at mom-and-pop restaurants. Our immersion in Mexico’s capital allowed us to appreciate the metropolitan’s history and culture.
However, the air quality in Mexico City is poor. The air quality index tends to be on the higher side, due to an abundance of cars. By population, Mexico City is the largest city in North America, with an estimate of 21,918,936 residents. The city’s area is enormous as well, with many extensive neighborhoods, so most destinations are not within walking distance. Many households in the capital have a car, so the streets are always congested with vehicles, especially the main avenues.
The poor air quality had several physical and mental effects. My family and I constantly wore a mask outdoors, not only because of COVID-19, but to prevent breathing in the toxic pollutants. I also found that my skin was dirty, especially my face, so I needed to clean my skin with more soap than usual. Further, my family and I felt tired every day by the mid-afternoon. In fact, inhaling polluted air can cause an increase in fatigue. After walking for hours in the morning and afternoon, we felt the need to go back to our Airbnb to rejuvenate before dinner.
Fortunately, Mexico City is rich in greenery. My family and I saw trees in almost every neighborhood and block. Plus, there were many parks filled with trees. In the borough we stayed at, Condesa, we faced Parque España (Spain Park.) It was populated with local joggers and their dogs and even had a small lake, rustic bridge and sculptures. It felt nice to be in a more natural environment, a break from the polluted areas.
Not only is the greenery a pleasant sight in the urban landscape, but it also has its environmental benefits. The trees filter out harmful air pollutants by absorbing them. Trees store carbon dioxide, releasing clean oxygen back into the atmosphere, which is essential for healthy lungs. In the span of a year, one tree absorbs more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide. Being that Mexico City is filled with cars that emit greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, the city must keep the trees for improved air quality.
Mexico City residents appreciate the capital’s greenery. Many residential apartments and homes have long vines hanging from their windows. Further, many highway columns have vertical gardens to reduce traffic noise and smog, thanks to The Via Verde Project.
Mexico City highway at night. Photo by Rodrigo Gonzalez via Unsplash
Metropolitans, such as Mexico City, rely on forestry for cleaner air. With deforestation increasing globally, it is crucial that we protect trees, especially the ones in cities. For the safety of ourselves and our planet, I encourage you to plant more trees and support activists who fight deforestation and climate change.
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