Bogotá’s mayor, Carlos Fernando Galán, has been recognized with the Earthshot Prize for his significant efforts in improving the Colombian capital’s air quality and advancing water conservation measures. Galán received the “Clean Our Air” award following a nearly 24 percent reduction in the city’s air pollution, despite ongoing population growth.

Galán’s comprehensive plan, involving an investment of close to $20 million, focused on expanding green public spaces, reforming the urban transport system, and targeting air pollution. Central to the initiative were Urban Zones for Clean Air, which prioritized some of Bogotá’s most polluted and economically vulnerable neighborhoods. Measures included the planting of more than 20,000 trees and the development of the largest cycle path network in Latin America.

A major transformation of public transportation also played a role in reducing emissions. The city now operates an electric bus fleet of approximately 1,400 vehicles, ranking among the largest in the world. Additionally, Bogotá has introduced over 100 kilometers of dedicated low-emission bus lanes and launched three new cable car lines to improve connectivity and reduce reliance on private cars.

Water management has also been a priority for Galán’s administration. In 2024, the city experienced dangerously low reservoir levels, prompting the introduction of water rationing to safeguard the supply. Efforts to protect páramos—high-altitude ecosystems vital to Bogotá’s watershed—have included measures to conserve these areas and payments to rural families who engage in land restoration and conservation activities. By mid-2026, agreements had secured more than 5,400 hectares around the city’s watershed to help preserve water resources.

Together, these initiatives represent a multifaceted approach to tackling Bogotá’s longstanding environmental challenges, combining urban planning, public transport innovation, and ecosystem conservation to foster a more sustainable urban environment.