Mexican officials demand clean transport technologies to reduce air pollution

Each year 1,200 people in Mexico die from air pollution, an official warned here Friday, calling for cleaner transport technologies.

Renovating the country's transport fleet presents a "great challenge" but is necessary, said Francisco Garcia Osorio, director of mobility and transport at the National Commission for Efficient Use of Energy.

"Mexico accounts for 10 percent of all deaths worldwide" caused by contaminants from burning fossil fuels, Garcia said during the ninth International Transport Congress held in Mexico City.

Experts estimate that it will take Mexico as long as 25 years to modernize its aging transport fleet. In the meantime, "we have opted to apply strict norms to regulate the emission of pollutants from transport," said the official.

However, there are also other measures cash-strapped cities can take to improve air quality, such as improving the maintenance of existing public transit vehicles, he said.

In addition, cities can turn to other alternatives, such as natural gas and electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The switch to cheaper natural gas could cut contaminant emissions by 70 percent and cut costs, said Luis Echeverria Escobar, president of the Energy Commission of Mexico's Employers' Confederation.

To make that a reality, the country needs to begin planning natural gas distribution and supply networks for urban centers.

The International Transport Congress, organized by the Mexican Transport and Mobility Association, concludes Saturday. Endi