Evaluating Climate and Air Pollution Mitigation Strategies in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo León: Public Health Benefits of Black Carbon Reduction

This project assesses the health, environmental, and socio-economic impacts of key climate and clean air interventions in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA), Nuevo León. Led by the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), it evaluates the effectiveness of two complementary officially adopted mitigation strategies, the Special Program on Climate Change (PECC) and the Integrated Program for Air Quality Management (PIGECA), with a focus on black carbon (BC) reductions. Using a transdisciplinary approach, it will generate robust scientific evidence to prioritize solutions that deliver integrated climate, health, and social co-benefits in a lower-middle-income country (LMIC). The project will monitor changes in BC levels and environmental indicators, and changes in respiratory and cardiovascular disease hospital admissions before and after the implementation of interventions (2022 through 2029) to empirically quantify the efficacy and impact of the implemented actions. Scenario-specific models will assess the distribution of the potential air quality, health, and economic benefits achievable under the plans. The project engages communities, government, and key stakeholders through a participatory process to align BC policies with local needs. Findings will be disseminated through reports, presentations, and publications to support evidence-based decisions and advance inclusive clean air strategies for urban environments in Mexico and other LMICs.