General Overview
Although Mexico is home to a remarkable wealth of bio-diversity, this environmental richness is threatened by air and water pollution, as well as the effects of deforestation, desertification, and its concomitant repercussive effects.
Current Issues
Key current environmental issues in Mexico include the following:
· natural fresh water resources are scarce and polluted in the north
· raw sewage and industrial effluents are polluting rivers in urban areas
· deforestation
· widespread erosion
· desertification
· serious air pollution in the national capital and urban centers, along US-Mexico border
In this regard, domestic air quality targets have been established in response to serious pollution problems, Mexico has international environmental obligations under the North American Agreement for Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), an adjunct NAFTA agreement.
In addition, Mexico participates with its NAFTA partners in the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NACEC) and is pursuing infrastructure projects along the U.S.-Mexico border. Priority border projects being developed and financed by the North American Development Bank (NADBank) and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) address wastewater treatment, drinking water, and municipal solid waste.
Mexico has a 5-year National Environmental Program (1996-2000) which is expected to invest $13.3 million to reduce air pollution in and around Mexico City. The project is intended to serve as an example for other major cities. Mexico also has introduced a federal tax incentive program for purchases of pollution control equipment, and has reformed its General Law of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection (LGEEPA).
Mexico receives international assistance for its environmental programs, primarily from the World Bank, Japan, and the United States. Major activities include pollution abatement planning and programs in the Mexico City area (covering emission standards development, pollution research support for the Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo and other institutions, and loans for new, clean taxis and small buses), the National Center for Environmental Research and Training (which disseminates information on air pollution and studies industrial hazardous wastes), programs for desulfurizing crude oil at the Tula refinery, environmental infrastructure development, and strengthening northern border region environmental planning and administration at the federal, state, and local levels. In March 1998, the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) loaned Mexico $23.4 million for work on overcoming barriers to the commercialization of energy efficiency.
Natural Hazards
Major natural hazards in Mexico include tsunamis along the Pacific coast, destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf and Caribbean coasts.
Regulation and Jurisdiction
Regulation and protection of the environment in Mexico is controlled and operated under the jurisdiction of the Secretariat of State for the Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries.
Under the General Law of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection LGEEPA, Mexico's ministries dealing with environmental and natural resource issues have been reorganized. The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Fisheries is designed to modernize and centralize Mexico's federal environmental policy and enforcement.
The National Institute of Ecology is responsible for executing environmental policy; the Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection carries out environmental inspections and negotiates compliance agreements with businesses and industrial groups in Mexico.
Responsibility for chemical substances and hazardous wastes is held by the Ministry of Communications and Transportation, while nuclear power and waste issues are dealt with by the Ministry of Energy.
Major Environmental Organizations
Major non-governmental environmental organizations and entities include: Amigos de Sian Ka'an A.C. (Friends of Sian Ka'an), Asociación Nacional de Ganaderos Diversifacados (National Association of Animal Breeders), Biocenosis, A.C. Biósfera Jalisco-Colima, Ducks Unlimited of Mexico, ECOSFERA, Fundación Miguel Alvarez del Toro para la Protección de la Naturaleza, Fundación Universo Veintiuno, A.C. (21 Universe Foundation), Grupo Ecologista del Mayab, A.C. (Ecology Group of the Mayab), Instituto Indigenista Interamericano (Inter-American Indian Institute) Instituto para la Naturaleza y la Sociedad de Oaxaca, and Pronatura, Chiapas Chapter/Mexican Association for the Conservation Nature.
International Accords
The major international agreements which Mexico is party to include Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, and Whaling.
Mexico
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(Millions of Metric Tons)
Fuel |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
Coal |
4.569
|
6.583
|
6.453
|
5.285
|
5.782
|
Natural Gas |
17.175
|
17.810
|
20.487
|
21.948
|
19.734
|
Petroleum |
67.934
|
63.350
|
66.011
|
66.669
|
69.503
|
Total |
89.678
|
87.743
|
92.951
|
93.902
|
95.019
|
% Change |
-
|
-2.2%
|
5.9%
|
1.0%
|
1.2%
|
Sources:
|
US Department of Energy
|
