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Mexico’s special program on climate change

4pm, July 20th, 2015

Mexico’s special climate change program—the programa especial de cambio climático (PECC), published in August 2009—sets Mexico’s long-term climate change agenda, together with medium-term goals for adaptation and mitigation.

This study—known as México: estudio sobre la disminución de emisiones de carbono (MEDEC)—is intended to contribute to the implementation of that long-term climate change agenda. The study evaluates the potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Mexico over the next 20 years. It evaluates low carbon interventions across key emission sectors in Mexico using a common methodology. Based on the interventions evaluated, it develops a low carbon scenario through 2030.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is critical in Mexico, not only to address climate change but also to facilitate economic development, a key emphasis of the country’s climate change agenda. Moving to a low-carbon economy could benefit Mexico in at least four ways:

  • Because it is likely to suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change (drought, sea level rise, increased severity of tropical storms), Mexico has a strong interest in becoming a leading participant in an international agreement to cap emissions.
  • Numerous ‘no-regrets’ low-carbon interventions (interventions that have positive economic rates of return and should be undertaken irrespective of climate change considerations) can contribute substantially to economic development in Mexico.
  • Many low carbon interventions have important co-benefits for Mexico, including the enhanced energy security associated with energy (on both the supply and demand sides) and renewable energy projects; the human health benefits from transport and other inventions that reduce local air pollutants; and the environmental protection benefits that can be achieved through forestry and natural resource management, waste-reduction programs, and reduced emissions of local pollutants from energy facilities.
  • Countries that pursue low carbon development, including the transfer of financial resources through the carbon market and new public programs that support climate change mitigation, are likely to reap strategic and competitive advantages.

The MEDEC study evaluated low carbon interventions in five sectors: electric power, oil and gas, stationary energy end-use, transport, and agriculture and forestry.

Read the full MEDEC study:

Institutions Involved

  • The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank

Authors

Todd M. Johnson, Claudio Alatorre, Zayra Romo and Feng Liu.
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