10

In this article, I examine how various groups have responded to the environmental threats posed by the Mexico City’s refinery operation and its post-industrial legacy. Drawing primarily from the archives of the state-owned oil company PEMEX, the Mexican National Archives, and newspapers, I show how sustained pressure from urban activism, experts and ecological movements was crucial in advocating for the refinery’s closure and shaping its transformation into a park. While environmental improvements are often seen as the result of political will or technological advances, this article highlights the critical role played by those directly impacted by industrial pollution in driving change and promoting environmental justice.