With greater speed due to the lower circulation of people, buses from the municipality of São Paulo emitted up to approximately 50% less greenhouse gases and air pollutants in January 2021, in comparison to the fleet in the same month of 2016. Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emitted in the combustion were 57%, 52% and 71% lower, respectively. The data forms part of the indicators of the quality and use of the municipal bus services, which, from now on, will be published twice a month in the “SP Bus Monitor Newsletter” by the Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEMA).

The document also states that the pandemic showed that prioritizing public transport increases socio-environmental highway efficiency – therefore, investing in exclusive lanes and bus corridors can be one of the solutions for compliance with Article 50, of the Law of Climate Change, which addresses the reduction of emissions of public transport in the capital of São Paulo.