Mexico, UK Deepen Climate Cooperation Amid Global Uncertainty

During her participation at the Mexico–United Kingdom Summit, Alicia Bárcena, Mexico’s Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), highlighted that bilateral cooperation is key to address the challenges of climate change.

Amid the uncertainty triggered by the United States’ tariff policies and the ongoing climate crisis, Bárcena underscored that today’s global reality requires countries like Mexico and the United Kingdom to diversify their economies and strengthen collaboration not only in trade but also in climate action. “Climate change is not a prediction; it is a reality that we must address now. It also exacerbates inequality and economic challenges,” she said.

The minister pointed out that, according to data from the US National Bureau of Economic Research, every one-degree increase in global temperature could be linked to a 12% decline in global GDP. In this context, she highlighted that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with global temperatures rising 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Mexico experienced an unusual heatwave, with average temperatures rising by 0.85°C, resulting in severe droughts. “This has brought us face to face with another major global issue: water stress,” Bárcena stated.

She emphasized that both Mexico and the UK recognize climate security as a global public good. She recalled that in 2020, Mexico issued the world’s first sovereign sustainability-linked bond on the London Stock Exchange, which matures in 2027. Furthermore, she noted that the UK has offered its expertise in emissions market regulation to encourage greater business participation in schemes that finance industrial transformation.

Bárcena also highlighted that several dialogs have been held with the British government on environmental cooperation and international financing. She mentioned a project under development in Quintana Roo to establish a facility that processes sargassum before it reaches the beaches, allowing it to be used as raw material across different industries. “We are working on a very promising project, and we are confident many will want to participate, as it has attracted strong interest from across Europe, especially the United Kingdom,” she said.

The specialist also outlined several climate mitigation and adaptation actions underway in Mexico. These include regional agreements to reduce pollution in metropolitan areas such as Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Mexicali. She also mentioned the update of NOM-163, in collaboration with the automotive industry, to promote the production of electric and hybrid vehicles. Bárcena pointed to ongoing efforts to transition thermoelectric plants to natural gas to replace fuel oil, a highly polluting fuel source. Additionally, the ministry is working toward unifying Mexico’s carbon tax, which currently varies by state, to create favorable conditions for a national emissions market. 

She also emphasized the importance of conserving and restoring mangrove ecosystems, which she described as key in the fight against climate change. The government aims to conserve 1 million ha of mangroves and restore 30% of the area that has been lost to date. In the coming months, she announced, a National Agreement on Forests, Jungles, and Mangroves will be signed. “This initiative will invite various industries, including real estate, tourism, timber, and agriculture, to discuss how to move toward the sustainable use and conservation of these ecosystems, which can be highly profitable,” Bárcena added.

She concluded by thanking Susannah Goshko, the British Ambassador to Mexico, and emphasized that climate change, while a challenge, is also an opportunity to transform the economic model through international cooperation and a just transition toward a more resilient economy. “We are eager to learn from what you have done. As George Canning, former UK Foreign Secretary, once said, ‘It is not the lesson received that saves us, but the ability to use it.’ Let’s hope we rise to that challenge,” said the minister.