Mexico Needs to Take Action to Combat Climate Change Miguel Ruiz Cabañas Izquierdo - EDF de México
go to original August 22, 2022

A Unique Initiative to Save Mexico’s Coral Reef (BBC)

With the Climate Change Summit having been held last November in Glasgow, Scotland, and considering the recent discussions in Mexico regarding energy, we believe that energy, the economy, social welfare and the environment are intimately linked and to optimize the synergies between these areas it is possible to create solutions that recognize this interrelationship.

While the challenges we face as a society are enormous, we are hopeful just because there are solutions that are viable and affordable that can ensure that we have a competitive energy sector, greater social welfare, a healthy environment, and sustained economic growth and development.

The following are specific proposals for what we can do today to build the future we want:

Reduce natural gas emissions in the oil and gas sector: Mexico needs to effectively enforce and adequately monitor compliance with the regulations in force in our country to prevent and control methane emissions in the hydrocarbon sector. According to this regulation, which is one of the most advanced in the world, the industry must identify emissions throughout the process of extraction, processing and transportation of natural gas and implement appropriate measures to minimize and avoid them. Minimizing natural gas losses will strengthen the country's energy sovereignty, increase industry efficiency, mitigate climate change, and protect public health and the environment.

Energy sovereignty and efficiency: Today, natural gas emissions from Nuevo Pemex's facilities, a natural gas processing plant in southeastern Mexico, are equivalent to 50% of the country's entire residential consumption. Avoiding natural gas waste in the hydrocarbon industry means greater energy security and efficiency for Mexico.

Economy: Monitoring and reducing the greenhouse gas footprint is a growing industry and will be a source of job development for the economy of the future and well-paying jobs.

Climate change: Mexico has national and international goals and commitments to achieve, such as reaching 35% renewable energy by 2024, in accordance with the Energy Transition Law.

In agreement with Canada and the US, Mexico has committed to reduce its methane emissions from the hydrocarbon sector by 40-45% by 2025.

Along with more than 100 nations, Mexico officially joined the Global Methane Commitment at COP26.

Environmental and public health benefits: The implementation of federal methane regulations also allows the control of pollutants and toxic compounds that directly affect the health of neighboring communities and deteriorate air quality in regions where the oil industry is concentrated in our country.

The energy transition is advancing and we should not be left behind: Due to its geographical position and orography, our country has extraordinary capacities to develop clean energies in its territory, which in a few years, could satisfy all the present and future demand of our population and export to other countries. The transition to clean energy can be the basis for a competitive economy - even in the south of the country - during the next decades, contributing to the creation of millions of jobs demanded by the new generations.

Our country has the opportunity to take advantage of the current situation to propose a transition that focuses on climate justice, social equity, protection of human rights, a healthy environment, health and decent employment.

Read the rest at EDF de México

Related: As Mexico Stalls Major Solar Projects, Companies Turn To Smaller Workarounds (PVDN)

Related: We're Past the Time for Bold Action on Climate Change (IPSNews)

Related: How Climate Breakdown Is Supercharging Toll of Extreme Weather (The Guardian)

This article was translated from Spanish using AI technologies. Errors may exist due to this process.

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