Central American Air Quality Monitoring and Modeling Center

CENTAIRE Project

Project CENTAIRE was an initiative created with the objective of establishing a specialized center for monitoring and modeling air quality in Central America. In light of the growing concern over the alarming levels of air pollution in the region’s major cities—levels that exceed the standards recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO)—CENTAIRE aimed to provide top-notch technological solutions to control and prevent pollution.

Issue: The major cities of Central America have experienced, year after year, pollutant levels that significantly exceed WHO standards. Among the main pollutants present in the region are:

  • Ozone (O3)
  • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
  • Total Suspended Particles (TSP)
  • Respirable Particulate Matter (PM-10)
  • Hydrocarbons (HC)
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO)
  • Lead (Pb)

These pollutants primarily originate from industries, services, and motor vehicles, and, to a lesser extent, from natural areas. The negative impact of these contaminants on public health is evident, and it is anticipated that poorly planned investments aimed at stimulating economic growth could exacerbate this situation in the future.

The aim of Project CENTAIRE was to demonstrate that clean air and economic prosperity can coexist in Central America, avoiding the mistakes made in other regions of Latin America. To achieve this, the project sought to leverage proven technologies for air quality management, offering more cost-effective and efficient solutions for pollution control. CENTAIRE aspired to be a self-sustaining center—developed in collaboration with the private sector—equipped with world-class technology for monitoring and modeling air quality.

CENTAIRE supported the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) by collaborating with regional and international organizations, pooling resources to systematize technical, institutional, and financial efforts regarding air quality. Its primary mission was to provide the necessary tools for continuous monitoring and analysis of air pollution, in order to promote public policies that reduce the negative effects on health and the environment.

Throughout its development, CENTAIRE focused on several key activities:

  1. Operation and maintenance of air quality monitoring stations.
  2. Development of inventories of pollutant emissions.
  3. Facilitation of high-technology systems for air quality modeling.
  4. Provision of accurate and up-to-date information on air quality.
  5. Training in monitoring and pollution control methods.
  6. Audits and evaluations of air quality management in Central America.
Centaire Project

Key Achievements of CENTAIRE

Project CENTAIRE reached significant milestones, including:

A cooperation agreement with ICF Consulting for the development of the project, which resulted in drafting a prospectus outlining the conceptual foundations of this Central American initiative.

Preparation of budgets and financial projections to ensure the project's viability, with support from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Backing from the Ministers of Environment of Central America, who agreed in February 1999 to jointly develop the project to create CENTAIRE within the framework of the Central American Commission on Environment and Development.

A preliminary agreement with the World Bank to integrate the CENTAIRE initiative within the Clean Air in Latin American Cities Initiative, in collaboration with the Central American Commission on Environment and Development.

Participation in international forums, such as the launch of the Clean Air in Latin American Cities Initiative (December 1998, Washington D.C.) and the Clean Air Workshop in Mexico City (June 1999).

Centaire Project

International Cooperation

CENTAIRE established key relationships with international organizations and institutions that supported the project, including:

  • The Climate Institute (Washington, DC)
  • Global Environment Facility (GEF)
  • Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI)
  • Tinker Foundation (New York)

These collaborations were essential for securing the financing and technical support needed for the project, as well as for promoting greater awareness about the importance of air quality in the region.

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About the Foundation

The Costa Rican Foundation for Sustainable Development, also known as ENTEBBE in honor of its headquarters located in the Ochomogo mountains, was established in Costa Rica by former President José María Figueres Olsen and former First Lady Josette Altmann Borbón, with the vision of creating a more equitable and sustainable world, centered on education, leadership, sustainability, and the protection of natural resources, especially the oceans. Its name evokes a spirit of international cooperation and global sustainability.

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