California-Mexico Border Activities

This page last reviewed February 14, 2020


On May 25, 2018, the CARB Board directed staff to develop a work plan in coordination with the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) and agencies in Imperial County and Baja California, Mexico to explore additional actions to improve air quality in the border region.

CARB staff worked with community members and agencies in Imperial County and Mexico to provide input on what priorities to include in the work plan. The Imperial County - Mexicali Air Quality Work Plan to Improve Air Quality in the Border Region lays out a set of actions and recommendations to improve air quality in the Imperial County - Mexicali border region.

CARB staff provided an update on the work plan and its accomplishments at the December 13, 2018 Board hearing. Staff will provide another update on the work plan and accomplishments at the July 2020 Board hearing.Below are links to the Draft Imperial County - Mexicali Air Quality Work Plan (English and Spanish) as well as an analysis of PM2.5 air quality and meteorological data at Calexico and Mexicali.

Imperial County - Mexicali Air Quality Work Plan Meeting Agendas and Presentations


Other California-Mexico Efforts to Improve Air Quality in the Border Region


Border 2020 utilizes a bottom-up approach to tackling environmental issues in the border region. Programs under Border 2020 were established binationally and seek to improve air and water quality, reduce waste, strenthen emergency preparation and response, promote environmental stewardship and address environmental health.

California-Mexico Border Relations Council

The California-Mexico Border Relations Council (CMBRC) was created in 2006 (AB 3021, Nunez) and coordinates cross-border programs, initiatives, projects and partnerships along the California-Mexico border. The CMBRC serves as a representative body of the State of California whose goal is to continue to develop and enhance cross-border relations between California and Mexico.

California-Mexico Memorandum of Understanding to Enhance Cooperation on Climate Change and the Environment

In July 2014, California and Mexico signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Enhance Cooperation on Climate Change and the Environment. This joint effort aimed to improve and protect the environment while ensuring sustainable use of natural resources to improve quality of life and increase trade and investment opportunities. The MOU was a four-year effort that ended in July of 2018 and contained four priority action areas: climate change, air quality, wildfires and clean vehicles. 

Fact Sheet: California-Mexico MOU to Enhance Cooperation on Climate Change and the Environment

California-City of Mexicali Memorandum of Cooperation on the Loan of PM Air Monitoring Sensors

In December 2018, California and the 22nd Administration of the City of Mexicali signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to enhance the availability of air quality data to better understand the causes and severity of air pollution in the Imperial County - Mexicali border region.

California and Baja California, Mexico Air Quality Implementation Plans


States on both sides of the border continue to identify measures they can take to improve air quality in their region by developing State Implementation Plans (SIPs) in the U.S. and ProAires in Mexico. SIPs are comprehensive plans that describe how a nonattainment area will attain national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). SIPs are a compilation of new and previously submitted plans, programs (such as monitoring, modeling, permitting, etc.), district rules, state regulations and federal controls.

In the State of Baja California, Mexico, the government develops the Mexico ProAire, which is a program to improve air quality in Baja California. The most recent ProAire for Baja California (2018-2027) includes goals to reduce emissions from vehicles at border crossings, expand dust control, and replace agricultural burning with more sustainable practices. SIPs and the ProAire have a common goal of identifying and implementing measures to improve air quality in a region over time.


Below is a list of the most recent Imperial County SIPs:


Below is the 2018-2027 Baja California ProAire (Spanish):

California and Mexico Air Quality Data


The following websites provide air quality data for Imperial County and Mexicali.

Imperial County


Baja California, Mexico


Mexicali, Baja California


Emissions Inventory and Other Border Related Projects


On March 21, 2002 CARB staff presented an overview of several air quality management activities in the California-Mexico border region and future planning efforts. These efforts included ambient air monitoring, vehicular emissions studies, and heavy-duty diesel vehicle inspections.


If you have any questions regarding California-Mexico border activities, please contact Elizabeth Melgoza at elizabeth.melgoza@arb.ca.gov or (916) 322-6161.

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