EMBARQ Mexico delivers Urban Reform policy proposals to Mexican President

Director Adriana Lobo of EMBARQ Mexico delivered policy proposals at the Plenary Session of the Consultation Forum of the National Development Plan, or “Prosperous Mexico,” chaired by Mexican President Peña Nieto on May 9. The proposals were generated by EMBARQ Mexico, together with the Centro Mario Molina and the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness. The proposed course of action is crafted around 7 key proposals to transform the current model of distant, dispersed and disconnected urban growth to one of environmental consciousness and economic sustainability, better known as Urban Reform. EMBARQ Mexico had previously advocated for Urban Reform for many months, with a publicly recognized hashtag #ReformaUrbana.

Mexican President Peña Nieto commented, “The talent and creativity of civil society will allow us to achieve a prosperous Mexico, an ambitious goal that will be achieved through institutional cooperation.” The President thanked the head of EMBARQ and other NGOs for the proposals, which further enhance Mexico’s 5-year National Development Plan (2013-2018) that will serve as the framework for government action during the next 5 years.

#ReformaUrbana: The 7 proposals for Urban Reform for the cities of Mexico

The seven specific proposals for Urban Reform include:

1. Land use planning: The creation of a unified national system for land planning.
2. Urban density: A program to develop density inside city boundaries, articulating policies and Federal investment to promote intra-urban projects.
3. Strengthening metropolitan centers: Creation of a comprehensive framework to support capacity building in metropolitan areas
4. Moving the city: A national program for sustainable urban mobility, which brings together under one supervisor all the urban mobility programs and projects planned and financed by the Federal government.
5. Revitalize neighborhoods: National program to intervene on the ground, and socially, toward improving deteriorated urban areas across Mexico.
6. Reorient housing financing: Link funding and federal subsidies with strict urbanization and quality of life indicators for sustainable neighborhoods.
7. City innovation: Create the sectorial fund to innovate in cities toward research, development and demonstration of pilot urban initiatives.

These proposals are a structural approach to develop the social and economic potential of Mexican cities through an institutional, legal and financially-oriented framework.

This is an urgent need for Mexico. Urban Reform will facilitate the building of inclusive, safe and friendly cities. It will allow Mexicans to live in cities with decent housing and attractive public spaces in strategically-located neighborhoods, serviced with efficient transport systems that are accessible and safe.

For reforms of this nature, which deal with addressing the planning and management of cities, it is essential to regain the influence of the federal government to spread the local initiatives to the national level. EMBARQ Mexico will continue to offer concrete initiatives in working toward the goal of building a prosperous and sustainable Mexico.