Madrid's adherence to Breathe Cities was finalized after a meeting between the city's mayor and London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, during the Bloomberg Citylab forum. This global initiative gathers metropolises worldwide with the common goal of improving air quality and mitigating climate change.
“"Madrid is proud to be part of this initiative. The municipal government's priority is the health and well-being of every Madrid resident."
The City Council has highlighted that the capital has achieved a 40% reduction in pollution levels over the past 20 years. This progress is attributed to various implemented measures, such as the electrification of the EMT bus fleet, the expansion of the bike lane network, and the development of a comprehensive clean air strategy.
With this incorporation, Madrid joins cities like London, Bogotá, Milan, and Paris in a project launched in 2023 by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clean Air Fund, and the C40 Cities group. The main purpose is to achieve a 30% reduction in atmospheric pollution and emissions by 2030.
The Breathe Cities strategy is based on four essential pillars: the use of advanced data and technology for air quality monitoring, the provision of specialized technical assistance, the promotion of citizen participation, and the exchange of knowledge among participating major cities. Integration into this network will allow Madrid to enhance its efforts, leveraging these tools and the support of a global community committed to these environmental objectives.
Participation in Breathe Cities will provide the capital with access to comparative data with other metropolises, specialized technical advice, and the opportunity to share best practices with cities of similar size. The Consistory trusts that this international collaboration will accelerate the implementation of new measures and strengthen the results already achieved in pollution reduction.
