Mexico introduces binding targets on climate change

Mexico will be the first developing country with integral legislation against climate change, the Mexican President Felipe Calderon has revealed.

Mr Calderon has signed a law which will introduce obligatory climate change targets in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing use of renewable energy.

The law calls for 35 percent of Mexico’s energy to come from renewable sources by 2024 and all government agencies will be obligated to use renewable sources of energy. A trading scheme for greenhouse gas emissions permits will also be introduced by the law.

This is only the second law of its kind in the world. The only similar legislation was when, in 2008, the UK government pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050.

“Mexico is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020 and by 50 percent by 2050,” Mr Calderon revealed on Twitter.

“This law is part of all the efforts that have made Mexico an international leader in environmental protection.”

The proposal was passed in the Senate in April by 78 votes to nil, and the law was signed on Tuesday, the UNEP’s World Environment Day.

 

Image: Mexico has introduced new climate change legislation | Wikimedia commons Ssolbergj