The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced Wednesday that Tijuana will receive a network of 50 low-cost sensors to be placed in and around the region as it is subject to emissions from heavy industry and trade.
Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CARB to improve the air quality of the region by collecting data to identify sources that generate high concentrations of particulate matter pollution.
According to CARB, Mexican officials will share information on any emission-reduction actions they take.
"This will facilitate the exchange of information on air quality in both regions and will improve our ability to enforce existing regulations on the matter, to prevent negative impacts on the lives of Tijuana residents due to pollution," DPA Director Alejandro Muñoz Gil Lamadrid said.
The project was facilitated by an $18,000 grant from the U.S. EPA's Border Program, officials said.
“The overarching problem is that air pollution does not respect borders — it travels from California into the Tijuana area and vice-versa, impacting border communities in San Diego and Tijuana that already are burdened with poor air quality,'' CARB Deputy Executive Officer of Environmental Justice Chanell Fletcher said.“This project can help provide near real-time information, helping to keep the public and border communities aware of local air quality conditions.''
