Leadership on the Path to Net Zero

As businesses and countries strive to reach decarbonization goals, it becomes imperative to identify areas that have been overlooked while developing overarching goals. Energy poverty, for example, has been left outside the federal agenda to achieve net zero goals, warns Eva Escamilla, Country Manager for Mexico, Carbon Trust.

“Every action aimed at reducing the carbon footprint has to consider the social aspect. That is, we cannot transition to renewable energy when more than 1 million Mexicans still depend on firewood,” says  Escamilla. 

According to Escamilla, 36.7% of Mexicans, equivalent to over 46 million individuals, are considered to be immersed in energetic poverty. While privileged households enjoy thermal comfort, efficient cooling/heating, and cooking facilities, over 46 million Mexicans are unable to satisfy at least one of these vital needs, raising concerns related to electricity accessibility.

Central to the decarbonization journey is the need to drastically reduce carbon emissions in organizations, according to Escamilla. Moreover, "leadership toward achieving net zero is not merely an end goal but a necessary path for the energy industry," says Escamilla. 

Decarbonization is not solely the responsibility of the government or foreign investments but concerns the entire value chain in the private sector. The roadmap to decarbonization begins with measuring carbon footprints, followed by designing ambitious yet actionable proposals leading to tangible climate actions, says Escamilla. 

To achieve these climate change initiatives efficiently, collaboration among civil society, the private sector, governments, and the financial sector is becoming increasingly imperative given the state of the climate landscape. Practical solutions for Mexico include optimizing nationwide transportation, transitioning from fossil fuels, and prioritizing transparency in decarbonization efforts to ensure effective climate actions, according to Escamilla.

Last but not least, “the country must invest in education to raise awareness of the importance of these climate goals and encourage society to adopt environmentally friendly practices. Ultimately, consumer and citizen demand can drive companies to adopt these green initiatives," says Escamilla.