Following a Mexican Senate vote recently, Mexico is poised to become just the second country in the world to enshrine long-term climate targets into national legislation, reports Richard Black at the BBC. All 78 senators approved the bill, indicating that all political parties have found common ground on this issue. Now all that’s needed is the signature of President Felipe Calderon, which is expected to materialise soon. The bill enshrines a number of measures in law, including: a 30% reduction in emission growth measured against a “business as usual” pathway by 2020, with a 50% reduction by 2050. 35% of energy will come from renewable sources by 2024. The bill obligates government agencies to use renewables, and mandates establishing a national mechanism for reporting on emissions in various sectors. What has pushed Mexico to this? One centrist parlaimentarian, Nicolas Bellizia Aboaf, noted that his state, Tabasco, “has suffered quite heavily the consequences of climate change”; 80 percent of Tabasco flooded in 2007. Although Tabasco contains thousands of oil wells, Mexico recognizes “the end of the oil era” another noted. Solar energy, hydro-electricity, geothermal, and other options will be explored.
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Inside Mexico’s climate revolution. Following a vote in its Senate on Thursday evening, Mexico is poised to become just the second country in the world to enshrine long-term climate targets into national legislation. Richard Black at the BBC
