Mexico will raise climate emissions targets for the first time since 2016

Latin America’s second largest greenhouse gas emitter will also raise its target of conditional emissions cuts – a target dependent on external support – from 36% to 40%.

Last year, Mexico pledged The Climate Action Tracker, after a research coalition to expand its climate targets, warned that emissions could actually rise under targets unchanged since 2016.

The Climate Action Tracker rated Mexico’s previous targets as “highly inadequate”, noting that the Paris climate agreement requires countries to progressively increase their percentage reduction targets to offset rising levels of overall emissions. Is.

The ministry said Mexico would maintain its target of cutting “black carbon” emissions by 51% or 70% unconditionally, depending on external conditions.

Black carbon is the soot material from coal plants and diesel engines, but the Climate Action Tracker said its effect as an additional metric was “negligible” because it largely comes from similar sources of CO2.

Mexico’s environment ministry said it has identified measures to cut an estimated 88.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually by 2030, including greater industrial regulation, zero-emissions vehicles, rail transport, remote working and creating more natural reserves .

World leaders and delegates from nearly 200 countries traveled to the Egypt summit this week, where policymakers began discussions on compensating poor countries for the growing losses associated with global warming.

The ministry said Mexico’s representatives would focus on climate adaptation, finance, and loss and damage.

President Andres Manuel López Obrador, who has faced criticism for hindering the development of privately funded renewable projects in favor of the state’s massive fossil fuel-powered power company, is not expected to attend. .

López Obrador has also vowed to help state oil company Pemex reverse a decade of declining oil production, but that has resulted in higher emissions from the natural gas glut. Methane leakage has also been a problem.

This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed.