Immobilizing for Climate Change

The banner behind the traffic jam says 'Great mobilization against climate change on Sept. 22nd.'

A single cyclist amidst a sea of cars.

You heard it hear first: On the 22nd of this month, Bogotá will 'mobilize against climate change,' and most private motor vehicles will be prohibited that day. Sadly, however, all the rest of the days the city seems to be mobilizing in favor of climate change and global warming.

Mayor Petro has made climate change one of the headline issues of his administration. However, he has overseen an historic boom in car ownership and accompanying boom in traffic jams. Petro entered office promising to create a congestion charge, but never pushed the issue, instead fiddling with the failed 'Pico y Placa' car restriction policy.

Bogotanos mobilizing - or immobilizing - for climate change.

Colombian officials recently promised to reduce the nation's global warming gas production by 20% by 2030. The goal looks admirable, but very impossible, in a nation where the number of cars is skyrocketing and which depends on agriculture, coal and oil exports and transportation. Colombian officials must know the goal is impossible, unless they expect the economy and population to start shrinking very soon.


By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours