April 4, 2026 - Air pollution is one of the most serious environmental threats to human health worldwide. In 2021, it caused 8.1 million deaths, an increase from 7 million recorded in previous studies. In Africa, Asia and Latin America, the infant mortality rate from air pollution is 100 times higher than in high-income countries.

Transport, from commuting to freight delivery, is a major source of emissions and air pollution. Poor air quality is one of the main unintended side effects of mobility. Internal combustion engine and non-exhaust emissions, along with other transport-related pollutants, release harmful toxins that damage human and animal health and contribute to global warming.

At WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, we work to advance livable, enjoyable and healthy cities worldwide. In Latin America, poor air quality and a high share of polluting vehicles underscore the urgent need for urban interventions that cut emissions. At the same time, cities must ensure that everyone has access to high-quality transport, especially efficient alternatives to private, polluting vehicles.

WRI Ross Center funded a project to develop an integrated approach between air quality and electric mobility, using WRI Colombia as a model for other teams in the region. During its development, we met with the WRI Global, Mexico, Colombia and Brasil teams working on air quality and electric mobility to explore synergies and identify potential collaborations. The meeting took place in Bogotá, Colombia, Jan. 27-31, 2025.

Bogotá Advances Air Quality and Electric Mobility Strategies  

Bogotá was selected to host this regional encounter because of its recent advances in air quality management and electric mobility projects. The city uses CanAiry Alert as a tool to monitor air quality, while the Vital Neighborhoods project included air quality indicators to measure its impact. So far, Bogotá has integrated 1,485 electric buses into its public transport system, Transmilenio, representing nearly 13% of the total fleet. The city is also building its first metro line.

Bogota’s cable car system, TransMiCable
Field visit to Bogota’s cable car system, TransMiCable. Photo by WRI Colombia

The retreat was structured around activities to integrate electric mobility and air quality teams in Latin America, strengthen cooperation and define joint strategies. Hosts facilitated knowledge exchange, identified opportunities, supported proposal development and explored funding strategies for sustainable projects in the region. Activities included design-thinking workshops, field visits and knowledge exchange sessions to build connections among team members.

The event also included talks and visits to some of Bogotá’s most inspiring projects. The Green Movil depot has the biggest electric fleet in Latin America, with 406 buses. During the visit, the company’s general manager shared insights into operations, infrastructure and vehicle technology. The tour highlighted recent progress in implementing sustainable transport solutions, as well as the potential impact of emerging technologies.  

The visit to the Barrio Vital El Porvenir neighborhood showcased how urban design can enhance active mobility and promote accessible, sustainable spaces. Project results shared during the visit highlighted improvements in air quality, emissions reductions and the community’s well-being in terms of road safety and overall quality of life.

A group visit to the Bosa El Porvenir neighborhood in Bogotá
Guided Visit to Vital Neighborhood Bosa El Porvenir. Photo by WRI Colombia

WRI’s Learning Experience 

The global directors of air quality and electric mobility opened the retreat by presenting a shared vision for the future of the teams and key concepts about each of the fields. Offices then presented updates on their work carried out in both electric mobility and air quality, emphasizing the potential connections between the two areas. These presentations enabled a comparative analysis of regional strategies and approaches, identifying best practices and areas for improvement that could be replicated or adapted in other contexts.

The WRI Brasil team has extensive experience in urban transport and air quality. One of its earliest initiatives was the FedEx Vehicles & Fuels project under EMBARQ, implemented between 2012 and 2014. This project estimated particulate matter and CO2 emissions from different bus fuels. At the same time, the team analyzed pollutant sensor technologies to assess PM10 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) levels following the implementation of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and São Paulo.  

The team has since built on this expertise, applying new methodologies to estimate health impacts and economic costs. In 2021, WRI Brasil published a report on the state of air quality in the country, highlighting health evidence, policy gaps and barriers to advancing air pollution control measures.

The WRI Mexico team supported the implementation of UK Pact projects in Mexico and Colombia. In Mexico, the team recently provided technical assistance to Metrobus, the regulatory authority of Mexico City’s BRT system, to develop an electrification plan under the TUMI initiative. The team has also worked with the private sector on freight transport electrification under the Clean Fleets, Clean Cities project.

Electric mobility projects in Colombia predate the establishment of the WRI Colombia office, with significant impact across multiple cities and strong collaboration with local stakeholders. Through UK Pact projects led by WRI Mexico, technical assistance was provided to local governments in Pasto, Neiva and Monteria.  

Since the establishment of the WRI Colombia office, this work has continued under initiatives such as the TUMI E-Bus Mission and Deep Dive Cities. Under the Big Bet Bogotá project, the air quality team analyzed the impact of interventions in the Barrio Vital San Felipe neighborhood on improving local air quality.

A New Vision of an Integrated Air Quality and Electric Mobility Approach

The teams proposed a vision for how electric mobility and air quality should evolve by 2030. Using a design-thinking approach, the participants shared their perspectives and discussed key issues, leading to the identification of priority themes. The figure below illustrates the main topics that emerged from the exercise:

A list of topics to emerge from a team activity between electric mobility and air quality teams.

These ideas were integrated to create a vision for WRI's air quality and electric mobility teams in Latin America: 

By 2030, the WRI air quality and electric mobility team in Latin America will be a leading reference in integrating sustainable mobility and air quality improvement, generating environmental and social benefits across the region.​ With a consolidated interdisciplinary network in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, we will drive the development of knowledge and innovative projects that respond to the needs of cities, documenting successful experiences and promoting effective public actions.​ We will attract international funding and raise awareness among decision-makers to accelerate the decarbonization of public and freight transport, prioritizing the impact on the most vulnerable populations, especially children, pregnant individuals and the elderly.​ 

A Team of Skilled Global Experts

During initial discussions on project experiences and funding proposals, participants highlighted the value of leveraging WRI's global network, aligned with the objectives of the OneWRI initiative. When local teams lack specific expertise or the proposal resources are insufficient to support additional technical staff, global experts can serve as advisors or references to strengthen WRI's value proposition. As a result, the final exercise focused on identifying capacities within air quality and electric mobility across the region and the broader network, particularly where local expertise is not available. Cross-cutting teams — including climate, economics and finance, urban development, communications, equity and development — were also identified as key contributors to project implementation. 

Laying the Foundations for Integrated Mobility and Air Quality Solutions

The retreat enabled the air quality and electric mobility teams to form a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary group. This integration strengthens strategic decision-making and drives innovative solutions for sustainable mobility. The team is defined by its analytical approach, commitment to innovation, equity and resilience, and a 2030 vision focused on delivering environmental and socio-economic benefits across the region.  

The retreat provided a crucial space to identify regional opportunities and funding challenges, facilitating discussions, strategic connections and knowledge exchange. It also developed a clear vision for the team’s future, aiming to strengthen integrated projects across Latin America. This process helped assess WRI’s current position and define viable, scalable initiatives for future funding. The development of project briefs will align the strategic vision with adaptable initiatives, strengthening the funding strategy with a particular focus on Latin America. This work established strong foundations to drive funding proposals for electric mobility, promoting a more efficient and accessible transport model.  

Together, these efforts will not only reduce pollutant emissions but also improve urban air quality. To learn more about the discussions and outcomes of the retreat, we invite you to review the conference proceedings here.