Mexico’s Bold Law Towards a Greener Future

In Mexico, today we celebrate!
The Chamber of Deputies approved the General Law of Climate Change today, which means we are one step closer to getting this law approved. Mexico is showing important support on the use of cleaner energies, restoration of ecological balance, as well as a conformation of the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC).

The president of the Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources, Ninfa Sada Salinas, said that this law will establish two main objectives: “the first one is to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases and the second one is assuring effective adaptation on climate change. “

Key changes Climate Change Law will bring to the country:
- The Secretary of Energy will establish policies and incentives to promote low-carbon energy technology.

- The National Ecology Institute (INE) will become the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC), with a governing board chaired by the Secretaries of Environment, Agriculture, Finance, Energy and Health, as well as the head of the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT).

- Support on conservation and recovery of carbon sinks, recognizing their importance on reaching national mitigation goals.

In summary, these concrete efforts are aiming to get Mexico on track for a greener future, one with 50% less carbon by 2050.

Who is against this law?
Members of the Labor Party (PT) said that this legislation does not solve the problem of climate change, and it will be “a setback” for corruption that could lead to an unfair use of carbon credits.

Congressman Gerardo Fernandez Noronha assured the law “opens a back door for international transnational corporations in the electric power sector to continue misusing local resources”.

On the other hand, this initiative sends a key message to big industries, as they will urgently need to incentivize future low-carbon development.

Final steps
The Climate Change law’s last step will be set by the end of this month. In the next days, the bill will have to pass through the senate and finally, get a signature by President Felipe Calderón.

At Adopt a Negotiator, we will be paying close attention to the completion of this process!

Useful Links: Animal Politico - Milenio - Blogd.edf.org - WWF Mexico
Featured image taken from: hispanicallyspeakingnews.com

(Andrea Arzaba, April 2011)