Northern Mexico In Peril - Between Fire and Pollution

Nuevo León, the country's industrial powerhouse and seventh most populous state in Mexico, faces an unprecedented environmental crisis. This March the state was ravaged by fires and extreme pollution, threatening the health and well-being of its citizens. The metropolitan area has witnessed devastating scenes: smoke-covered skies, residents suffering from respiratory illnesses, and a quality of life that deteriorates daily.

However, this crisis is not an isolated phenomenon or a simple natural devastation; it is the result of a combination of factors: the federal government's inaction, its stubborn defense of the use of oil, uncontrolled pollution from industry, and a vehicle fleet that outnumbers the population, rendering the air simply unbreathable. Nuevo León is trapped between fire, smoke, and toxic air.

At the center of this environmental disaster is the Cadereyta refinery. This obsolete and dangerous facility, which operates with impunity to this day, has been the subject of constant criticism for its impact on air quality. Over the years, environmental organizations and specialists have warned about its emissions and its contribution to the pollution crisis in Nuevo León. However, the federal government has chosen to keep it operating without significant changes. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who in the past built her image as a promoter of environmental policies, has dismissed calls for its closure or modernization. Her administration has reaffirmed its commitment to Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and to an energy strategy that prioritises oil over public health.

But the refinery is only part of the problem. Monterrey, the state capital, faces an unsustainable mobility crisis. With more cars than residents, the city is a hotbed of vehicle emissions that exacerbate air pollution. In a context where public transportation is inefficient and sustainable mobility options are limited, car use has become a necessity, but also a determining factor in the environmental crisis. This vehicle overload, coupled with the lack of strict environmental regulations for the industry, has generated alarming levels of pollution that directly affect the quality of life of Monterrey residents.

Add to this the devastation wrought by forest fires, which have consumed thousands of hectares and further aggravated the environmental crisis. These fires, far from being an anomaly, are the result of an increasingly fragile and vulnerable ecosystem in the face of climate change and the uncontrolled expansion of urbanization and industry in the state. For Monterrey, these fires are not only an environmental tragedy but a premonitory image of its collapse, as if the city were experiencing its own Great Fire of Rome. The fury of the flames not only ravages vegetation but also sweeps away the hope of a once-thriving environment. The lands, once a vital lung for the city, are now becoming a scene of uncontrollable destruction, leaving a void that seems impossible to fill. Like the ancient ruins of Rome, Monterrey faces a descent into ruin marked by smoke, ash, and the echo of a foretold disaster. The tragedy is not just the fire; it is the certainty that, with each blaze, the city's equilibrium fades a little further, pushing it irremediably toward its own decomposition.

Amid this panorama, Monterrey is preparing to welcome the world as one of the hosts of the 2026 World Cup. What image will the city project when foreign delegations and visitors arrive in a place where pollution is so severe? Pollution is not only a public health issue; it is also a matter of image and development. While other cities around the world are moving toward sustainable models, Monterrey remains trapped in an environmental crisis that could have been prevented with political will and effective regulation.

Citizen outrage has grown alongside environmental deterioration. Protests and calls to action have emerged demanding: the closure of the Cadereyta refinery, stricter regulations for industries, investment in efficient public transportation, and a real pollution mitigation plan. The federal government, however, has been evasive, skirting clear commitments or effective strategies to address this situation. Nuevo León's environmental crisis is neither an accident nor an inevitable consequence of industrial development; it is the result of political decisions that have favoured energy and economic interests over the health of the population.

The future of Monterrey and the rest of Nuevo León is uncertain. If federal authorities continue to ignore this crisis, the Monterrey metropolitan area risks becoming an emblematic case of urban environmental collapse in Mexico. The question that remains is whether the population will endure these conditions until they become irreparable. Nuevo León needs answers, concrete actions, and a real commitment from the federal government to the quality of life of its inhabitants. What's at stake is not only the air they breathe today but also the right to a healthy and sustainable future for future generations.

Image: Flickr/Pacific Southwest Forest Service USDA (Jhovanni Solano)

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