Mexico joins UK with a pioneering climate law

© Edward Parker / WWF-Canon

Mexico- the world’s 11th biggest economy, and also 11th biggest greenhouse gas emitter – has taken a really important step in the fight against climate change.

Mexico is introducing an important new law to tackle climate change. Its House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly in favour of legislation that will require the whole country to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2050. Once it’s approved by the Senate, Mexico will be only the second country in the world, after the UK, to pass climate change legislation.

The government’s new law will involve phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, making renewable power fully competitive with oil, gas and coal, and ensuring that 35% of Mexico’s electricity will come from clean sources by 2024.

There will also be a strong focus on equity, conserving Mexico’s environment, and making sure there’s broad citizen participation.

Vanessa Perez-Cirera (WWF-Mexico Climate Program Director) announces the new law.

As our own climate change team leader Keith Allott says: “This is great news. And it’s all the more significant because Mexico is set to become one of the world’s biggest economies – projected to be the fifth largest in the world.by 2050. But with around 40% of its people still living in poverty, Mexico’s government can see that ending poverty and growing the economy will be that much harder unless they cut greenhouse gas emissions and embrace renewable energy.

This news also shows once again the global significance of the UK and Scottish Climate Change Acts – we’ve taken a bold lead that other countries are now following.

David Cameron now needs to ensure that the UK act is implemented vigorously, and in the UK we embrace the huge potential to save energy and develop new, clean renewable energy sources.”

We’re waiting with interest for the upcoming Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) event, which will take place in London on 25-26 April 2012 where David Cameron will make his first speech on the environment since being in Government.

Find out more about how and why we’re supporting renewable energy.