Authorities report Mexico City’s air quality last year was the best of the 1990s, but they acknowledge a great deal still needs to be done to reduce smog in what is one of the world’s most polluted cities. As if to underscore the latter point, a spike of particulate contamination on Jan. 31—the worst since 1991—forced a three-day state of emergency in the capital’s southeast sector. But in 1999, the federal capital experienced 360 days without an environmental emergency, compared to just 177 during 1991, the year with the most emergencies. Officials declare environmental emergencies when air pollution exceeds limits established by the Metropolitan Environmental Commission. In emergencies, industrial activities and vehicle travel are restricted to cut emissions. The improved conditions occurred...
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Is Texaco interested in coming to terms with the rainforest Indians seeking to sue it in U.S. courts for allegedly contaminating their Amazon lands? The impression began building after Texaco Chairman and CEO Peter Bijur in September wrote a letter to the Amazon Coalition, a group supporting the Ecuadorian and Peruvian plaintiffs in twin class-action suits against the oil company. Bijur complained about the group’s “inflammatory” criticism of Texaco, but went on to say the company was interested in working toward a “fair, reasonable and comprehensive resolution to this matter.” Then, in December, Texaco officials asked the Indians’ supporters for—and subsequently received—information about ongoing pollution problems in the Ecuadorian territory where the oil company drilled for more than two decades in partnership...
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The Mexican environmental enforcement agency Profepa last month fined Latin America’s largest foundry, Met-Mex Peñoles. Separately, the agency published the first results of a new environmental compliance monitoring program, revealing a mediocre industry record in meeting federal air-quality regulations. Profepa fined Peñoles nearly $72,000 in connection with problems discovered in 13 inspections at the metals refinery in the northern city of Torreón. The agency noted, however, that the plant has complied with the bulk of the cleanup orders it issued when it imposed a production cutback of 50% last May to reduce contamination from lead dust. The cutback, eased to 25% in October, was ordered amid an outcry over blood tests showing elevated lead levels in thousands of residents living near the plant...
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A renewable energy fund for Costa Rica is among the first projects the World Bank will underwrite as part of a new Prototype Carbon Fund (PCF) it has designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries. Under the PCF, announced in January, Costa Rica will receive support for small, wind-power and other alternative energy projects to help meet growing demand for electricity domestically and in neighboring Central America nations. Other Latin countries appear eager to take part in the fund. Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil and Nicaragua have signed non-binding memoranda of understanding to express formally their interest in hosting projects, and El Salvador is following suit. Industrial nations and corporations have committed a total of $85 million to the carbon fund, which the...
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