Mexico City's green roofs help fight climate change

MEXICO CITY. August 25. KAZINFORM More buildings in Mexico City are having plants on their roofs to help reduce pollution and lower the city's temperature to improve the environment for its population, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

Mexico's Environment Ministry on Monday planted a cactus garden and a kitchen garden on the roof of its building in an effort to fight asphalt heat traps.

    The garden, also working as a carbon trap, will help suck up carbon dioxide emitted by vehicles on nearby roads.

    Asphalt absorbs heat and then lets it back out into the environment, while plants absorb heat through chemical processes like photosynthesis, Perez said.

    Maria de los Angeles Islas, director general of the CICEANA, told Xinhua that "It means buildings are cooler. Less air conditioning will be used or not used at all, especially on the top floor which is directly under the garden."

    Islas estimated that around 10 percent of the city's rooftops could be turned into green spaces, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.