Mexico City-Urban Futures

• Why is Mexico City important at in terms of trade links?

  It was bilt on Lake Texaco so all the trade routs from North and South America goes through it.
• How much of Mexicos GDP does Mexico City generate?

  1/4
• How is Mexico City's historic centre being a UNESCO world heritage site important?

  It attracts tourists
• What is the population of Mexico City?

  23 million (overpopulated)
• What percentage of 6-14 yr olds attend school in Mexico City?

  More than 94%
• What % of 15-19 yr olds attend school in Mexico City?

  60%
• Why are there many rural-urban migrants coming from Puebla?

  - In Puebla, primary industry (agriculture) dominates (which are not high paying jobs) and 60% of people don't have access to clean drinking water and there is only a 65% literacy rate

  - In Mexico City there are more employment opportunities, better education and housing, there is also a higher quality of life so people will want to go to Mexico City for a better future
• What % of people don't have access to clean drinking water in Puebla?

  60%
• What is the literacy rate in Puebla?

  65%
• Why were there lots of migrants going to Mexico City during the Great Depression?

  Mexican migrants who had gone to the USA came back to Mexico during the Great Depression when the US was not financially stable. They went to Mexico City to look for employment.
• How have the Chinese changed the character of Mexico City and how many Chinese families are there in the city?

  - around 3,000 families have Chinese heritage

  - there is the smallest China town in the world in Mexico City with many restaurants
• How many's Jews are there in Mexico City and how have they changed the character of the city?

  - there are 50,000 Jews in Mexico City

  - there are 24 synagogues

  - there are 12 Jewish schools
• How have Germans impacted character of Mexico City?

  - 1,700 registered German businesses in Mexico City - Mercedes Benz have offices there

  - Berlin and Mexico City are sister cities
• Why is air pollution a major issue in Mexico City?

  - The sierra madre mountains block the pollution, overpopulation, industrialization, and the wind patterns are not strong enough to push pollution away
• How many days of acceptable air quality were recorded in 2016?

  26
• How many annual deaths are there that are attributed to poor air quality in Mexico City?

  10,000 deaths
• Why is water a contemporary urban challenge in Mexico City?

  - high demand for water

  - poor infrastructure and water pipes means 40% of water is lost to leakages
• What % of Mexico City has less than 12 hours of running water every day?

  70%
• What % of the population has to wait many days for running water?

  18% (when they get water it is only for around 1-2 hours)
• How does water shortages in Mexico City show inequality?

  - richer neighbourhoods have regular water and even have enough for golf courses

  - poorer neighbourhoods don't have regular running water
• Why is rubbish a contemporary urban challenge in Mexico City?

  - the city produces 13,000 tonnes of rubbish every day but the waste disposal system can only hold 9,000 tonnes

  - this means that there is a lot of fly tipping in waterways and streets which can contaminate the water supply
• How many tonnes of rubbish is buried beneath waste dumps and what is the effect of this?

  - 70 million tonnes of rubbish is buried beneath waste dumps

  - this is polluting water supplies which causes diseases to spread
• How has Mexico City tried to reduce air pollution?

  - a new building has been covered in a special pigment which when UV light hits, it breaks down air pollutants into less noxious compounds like CO2 and water

  - However, this has only been done for one building in the whole city

  
  

  - cars have also been banned from entering the city one day a week based on their licence plate - they are offered free subway/bus travel instead

  - to get around this richer people can buy more cars with different license plate

  - people might also not want to use public transport as it can be dangerous

  
  

  - there is also a bike sharing system (ecobici) where people share bikes to get around the city

  - people are sometimes put off because it can be dangerous (esp for women) and there are lots of cars

  
  

  - there is a cable car system that takes people to and from slums which reduces travel time from 90mins to 20mins

  - this reduces air pollution as less cars are on the road

  - can also reduce crime
• How many people use Ecobici in Mexico City?

  120,000
• How has Mexico City become more sustainable in terms of water?

  - the city has started rainwater harvesting - plumbers have been trained and employed to install the low maintenance, low cost scheme. (This provides employment - sustainable)
• As of 2016, how many rainwater harvesting systems have been installed and how many residents have been supplied with the harvested water?

  - 2,200 systems have been installed

  - enough water has been harvested to supply 17,000 residents
• How has Mexico City become more sustainable in terms of rubbish?

  - 'Trash for food' movement - people are encouraged to collect rubbish which they can exchange for food tokens

  - the movement provides food for people and reduces rubbish - less rubbish could mean more people will invest in the city
• In 2014 how many tonnes of recyclable waste was collected thanks to the 'trash for food' movement?

  128 tonnes
• Why does rural-to-urban migration occur?

  Job Opportunities
• Why is there a decline in death rate?

  • Better Healthcare
  • More government investment
• Economic and investment and growth in Mexico City

  • factories and offices
  • formation of organisations
  • Renault and Santander have opened new branches in the city
  • big markets
• Why are there international migrants to Mexico City?

  • escape from conflicts
  • better quality of life
  • ethical origins
  • new jobs
• What may be the cause of urban growth on culture?

  Diasporas
• Crime in MC?

  • high crime rate
  • 3 kills weekly
  • 500 kidnaps monthly
• Infrastructure in MC?

  • good infrastructure
  • 99% of metropolitan area has electricity
  • 97% has access to water
  • 96% connected to servers
• Environmental impact and stats of vehicles in MC?

  -4 million cars everyday

  -50,000 minibuses

  -103,000 taxis

  -450,000 vehicles carrying loads

  -2252 vehicles per square km
• Education in MC?

  -95% of 6-14 year olds educated

  -60% of 15-19 year olds is educated
• How many people have internet in MC?

  -half of 22.7 million have internet
• Why is MC called the City of Disparity?

  -lot more poor people than the rich
• What is the Domestic product of MC?

  -US $411 billion

  -one of richest urban areas