Act locally, think globally… again
Augusta Dwyer, in listing five good recent Mexican innovations, mentions one that I always said would do more for improving air quality in Mexico City than anything else — more plants:
Mexico City’s Environment Secretariat is doing something remarkable this year, offering residents a 25 percent discount on their property tax if they put a garden on their roof. Now, we’re not taking a few geraniums in old paint cans, but a garden covering at least 80 percent of the surface and qualifying for a “certificate of environmental excellence.”
These will not only hopefully replace the ubiquitous roof dog with a supply of healthy vegetables, but reduce noise, keep the temperate inside more stable, and cut rain-proofing and maintenance costs. I don’t know of any other city government in the world that has come up with such a great idea.
Nica Rosenburg (The News, Australia) has more:
…The smog-choked metropolis plans to replace gas tanks, clothes lines and asphalt on 100,000 square feet (9300 square metres) of publicly owned roof space each year with grass and bushes that will absorb carbon dioxide.
The city also plans to offer tax breaks for businesses or individuals who put gardens on top of their offices and apartment buildings.
The vast majority of buildings and homes in Mexico City have flat roofs, making the city an ideal candidate for the roof garden plan.
Left-wing Mayor Marcelo Ebrard has pledged $US5.5 billion ($5.7 billion) over five years to reduce greenhouse gases in Mexico City, home to some 20 million people and 4 million cars.
“These are not generic objectives or wishes – we have a clear goal,” Mr Ebrard said at an event to inaugurate the environmental plan….
I’m not sure why, but I could find nothing in the U.S. press about this… a lot on drugs and salmonella, but something positive from Mexico? Is that asking too much?
mexfiles.net 
http://www.inhabitat.com/2006/08/01/chicago-green-roof-program/
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&contentOID=536912065&topChannelName=HomePage
It’s great idea and those show what you can do with it. It’s mainly targeted at businesses and office buildings in Chicago. But if they did a similar plan here…with the cost of taxes lately. Well…your average chicago neighborhood might give the fabled gardens of babylon a run for their money.
Mexico City needs more greenery and trees….lots and lots of trees.
This is a bad idea that will further drive Mexicans to immigrate to the US. Mexico, if you haven’t figured it out yet, Al Gore only wants money…. Have you seen his house?
HUH???? You got me on this one. How does making the city more livable (and I can’t think of anyone who is against gardens — or tax breaks for property owners) drive people to emigrate. At worst, it might mean more people moving back into the Federal District.
I think that I was a little too fast to read here. Why do you have to pledge money in a bill if it is just a tax break? I feel a little bad that I was attacking Al Gore, Tax breaks are good. But the federal district is surrounded by all of those smog trapping mountains right? So a green roof might not really do much, the city is as usual screwed. Too many people, Mexico City sounds like it needs some urban sprawl to get those people out of there.