At the international conference Scientific Advances on Air Quality and Their Application to Public Policies in Mexico City, Chris James presented strategies for integrated multi-pollutant planning for energy and air quality (IMPEAQ). IMPEAQ is a model process that encourages cooperation between climate, air quality, and energy regulators to comprehensively and simultaneously reduce all air pollutants, including criteria, toxic, and greenhouse gases (GHGs). IMPEAQ seeks to identify least-cost pathways to reduce emissions of multiple pollutants by adhering to Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) principles. Mr. James underscored that jurisdictions not pursuing integrated strategies risk economic disadvantage, public health disadvantage, or both. While politicians are unlikely to pursue integration until regulators do, regulators can often be prescriptive about the objectives, coordination, processes, and methods for energy and air quality programs and plans.

As Mexico plans for the implementation of a 2012 law to cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the nation is also preparing to amend and strengthen its air quality laws. The government created a new cabinet level agency, the Instituto Nacional de Ecologia y Cambio Climatico (INECC), tasked with coordinating policies and planning across multiple departments.