mexico
Credit: Kevin Kandlbinder/Unsplash
Mexico’s next president faces challenges in moving away from oil dependence
Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico's next leader and a climate scientist, faces obstacles in shifting the country's energy policy toward clean energy due to her predecessor's heavy investment in fossil fuels.
In short:
- Mexico's outgoing president, López Obrador, invested heavily in fossil fuels, including a $16 billion oil refinery, complicating a shift to clean energy.
- Pemex, Mexico’s state oil company, is burdened with nearly $100 billion in debt, requiring taxpayer bailouts and adding financial strain.
- Sheinbaum plans to cap oil production and promote renewable energy, but her ability to pivot is limited by economic and political pressures.
Key quote:
“The growth in demand must be absorbed by renewable energy sources.”
— Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s President-elect
Why this matters:
Mexico's entrenched oil dependency poses risks to its economy and climate goals. The country’s transition to clean energy is essential but faces significant political and financial hurdles.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Barbara Zandoval/Unsplash
Biden's new border policy endangers climate migrants in severe heat
Amid extreme heat in the southwest, President Biden's recent border policy endangers asylum seekers fleeing climate disasters.
In short:
- Biden's order closes the southern border to most asylum seekers when daily crossings exceed 2,500, risking heat-related illnesses and deaths.
- The policy forces migrants to wait in extreme conditions, with limited exceptions for entry.
- Critics argue the directive undermines climate-driven migration relief and is politically motivated.
Key quote:
“This executive order being issued at this time is an additional cruelty that will force more people into dangerous conditions where they’re exposed to a really severe climate impact.”
— Ahmed Gaya, director of the Climate Justice Collaborative at the National Partnership for New Americans
Why this matters:
Biden's policy could worsen health risks for migrants as climate change increases global temperatures. It contradicts previous promises to prioritize climate-related migration, raising concerns about the administration's commitment to climate justice.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Alexander Schimmeck/Unsplash
Mexico elects climate scientist Claudia Sheinbaum as president. How will she lead?
Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is a left-of-center climate scientist with a doctorate in energy engineering and a background in politics.
In short:
- Claudia Sheinbaum, former mayor of Mexico City, is known for her environmental initiatives, such as electrifying public transport and installing solar arrays.
- Despite her commitment to renewable energy, Sheinbaum supports maintaining oil production and state control of Pemex, Mexico’s indebted national oil company.
- She faces significant challenges, including balancing environmental goals with economic demands and addressing issues of poverty, migration, and crime.
Key quote:
"Claudia is an environmental scientist and unlike her mentor, AMLO, believes in decarbonization and in boosting renewables."
— Shannon O’Neil, Mexico specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations
Why this matters:
Mexico's election of a climate scientist as president highlights a potential shift toward more sustainable energy policies.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: William Silver/Big Stock Photo
Water delivery disputes between Mexico and US impact South Texas
As another hot summer approaches, South Texas faces water shortages due to Mexico's failure to meet its obligations under an 80-year-old water treaty.
In short:
- Mexico has not met its water delivery obligations to the U.S. as required by a 1944 treaty.
- Farmers and municipalities in South Texas are preparing for significant water cutbacks.
- Political tensions in Mexico and the U.S. are complicating efforts to resolve the water delivery issue.
Key quote:
“We haven’t gotten any rains or significant inflows. It’s not looking good.”
— Maria-Elena Giner, commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission
Why this matters:
Water shortages could severely impact agricultural production and municipal water supplies in South Texas. Farmers are already preparing for the worst, anticipating crop losses that could impact the local economy and food supply. Cities are implementing stringent water conservation measures, urging residents to cut back on usage. Health officials warn that the scarcity could lead to increased health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children, who are more susceptible to the effects of extreme heat.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: wollertz/Big Stock Photo
Extreme heat in Mexico leading to howler monkey deaths
Howler monkeys are dying in Mexico’s southeastern forests due to intense heat and drought conditions.
In short:
- Up to 85 howler monkeys have died in Tabasco due to severe heat, with temperatures exceeding 45°C.
- Tabasco's Civil Protection agency attributes the deaths to dehydration, confirming incidents in three municipalities.
- Efforts are underway to provide water and fruit to prevent further deaths among the vulnerable species.
Key quote:
"It is because the heat is so strong. I've been visiting the states for a long time and I have never felt it as much as now."
— Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
Why this matters:
Rising temperatures threaten wildlife like the vulnerable mantled howler monkeys but also pose significant health risks to humans, as evidenced by 26 heat-related deaths in Mexico this season.
Related EHN coverage:
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Juan Manuel Aguilar/Unsplash
Mexico's energy policy challenges climate commitments
Mexico’s continued reliance on state-run energy may hinder its climate goals, despite a proud history of oil nationalization.
In short:
- Claudia Sheinbaum, presidential frontrunner, plans to maintain dominant state control over oil and electricity, opposing substantial private sector involvement.
- Current electricity production from clean sources is about 22%, with a target of 43% by 2030, challenging given the state's preference for fossil fuel plants.
- The nationalization of the oil and electricity sectors is a deeply ingrained political and cultural issue in Mexico, influencing ongoing energy debates.
Key quote:
“Mexico’s greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise – despite the brief dip caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – and are projected to continue increasing through 2030.”
— An independent scientific project
Why this matters:
Mexico's energy strategy is at a crossroads between national pride in state control and the urgent global need for cleaner energy solutions. The balance of power in Mexico's energy sector could significantly impact its ability to meet international climate targets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Small-scale clean energy and low carbon technologies—such as solar panels, smart appliances and electric bicycles—are more likely to push society toward meeting climate goals than large-scale technologies, according to a 2020 study from a team of international researchers.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Kristine Wook/Unsplash
Mexican farmers protest against water-intensive avocado farming
As a severe drought persists, local farmers in Michoacán, Mexico, are clashing with avocado orchards over the drastic depletion of their water sources.
In short:
- Farmers are dismantling illegal water systems in avocado orchards to combat local water shortages in Villa Madero, a small hamlet in Michoacán, México.
- Last year, México received half the amount of rainfall it usually gets, making water a sought-after resource.
- The conflict is heightened by the involvement of drug cartels in the avocado trade, posing significant dangers to activists.
- Authorities are slowly responding as community members take drastic measures to reclaim water resources.
Key quote:
"In the last 10 years, the streams, the springs, the rivers have been drying up and the water has been captured, mainly to be used for avocados and berries. There are hamlets in the lower part of the township that no longer have water."
— Julio Santoyo, local activist.
Why this matters:
The situation in Michoacán illustrates a critical intersection of environmental degradation, local livelihoods, and corporate and criminal interests.
Extreme weather and temperature swings are estimated to cut major crop production by 23% over the next 30 years, scientists warn.
Keep reading...Show less
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
