COLLEGE PARK, MD – Today, the Center for Global Sustainability (CGS) at the University of Maryland released a new report co-authored by WWF Mexico and Tempus Analitica that outlines an ambitious pathway for Mexico, Latin America’s second-largest economy, to achieve a 47–51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 from 2023 levels and net-zero emissions by 2050. The report titled, "Achieving a High Ambition Pathway with Enhanced Subnational Climate Action in Mexico," assesses the importance of coordinated action at the federal, state/province, and city level, especially in the face of opportunities to reduce methane and power and transport emissions.
Currently, Mexico is largely dependent on fossil fuels. Coal and gas account for 67% of electricity generation, while fossil fuels represent 48% of total final energy consumption in the industrial sector. From 2010 to 2023, Mexico’s total GHG emissions rose by 14%, making it the second-highest GHG emitter in Latin America and the 16th largest globally. In 2023, more than 60% of Mexico’s natural gas supply was imported, primarily from the United States, and reliance has only grown due to rising demand and low prices. Sales of electric and hybrid vehicles rose 84% last year, but made up less than 2% of new car sales. Charging infrastructure is sparse and incentives vary by state.
The report identifies the important role subnational actors can play to support and strengthen local and national climate ambition, in the context of centralized climate and energy policy in Mexico. This includes strengthening energy efficiency and promoting and incentivizing rooftop solar in the industrial and residential sectors, reducing methane emissions, particularly from food loss and waste, advancing the circular economy and industrial efficiency, and modernizing public and private transit. The report outlines several recommendations across sectors that rely on rapid deployment of solutions by both national and subnational leaders. Future research could evaluate the impact of these actions, if scaled and accelerated, on local issues such as air quality, electricity costs, and climate resilience.
Some of the report’s other recommendations include:
- Power sector - Rapidly expand solar and wind power, aiming for 77% of non-fossil generation by 2035, phasing out coal by 2030 and halting new gas plant developments
- Transportation - Accelerate and incentivize EV adoption and charging infrastructure, while promoting a modal shift toward mass transportation for passengers and electric rail for freight.
- Methane reduction - Improve solid waste management, support sustainable agricultural practices, and retrofit oil and gas infrastructure, as well as strengthen monitoring and control of methane leaks to reduce methane emissions.
- Industry - Accelerate electrification and energy efficiency by providing technical and financial resources to manufacturing facilities. Implement the Emission Trading System with more ambitious decarbonization goals and extend the carbon tax to include gas.
“The high ambition pathway laid out in our new report highlights the wealth of opportunities for greater ambition on national GHG emissions reductions in Mexico,” said Dr. Ryna Cui, CGS Associate Director and University of Maryland Associate Research Professor. “Mexico has one of the largest economies globally. By taking an all-of-society approach, where national and subnational leaders can coalesce around strategies that rapidly expand the adoption of renewable energy and electric vehicles, as well as advance technological and policy innovations to reduce non-CO₂ emissions from the agriculture and waste sectors, the country can become a leading force for enhanced climate action in Latin America and beyond, contributing to the clean energy transition and an ambitious climate agenda worldwide.”
Access the full report here.
