Mexico, US to Work on Renewable Energy Projects

John Kerry, US Climate Representative, and President López Obrador agreed to develop renewable energy projects in the south of Mexico to fight climate change and provide more specialized job opportunities. 

The diplomats met on March 22, 2023, at the Sixth Extraordinary Meeting of the National Governors’ Conference (CONAGO) held in Oaxaca. The event was also attended by Ken Salazar, US Ambassador to Mexico. During his visit, Kerry stressed that the governments of Mexico and the US will cooperate to accelerate efforts toward producing more renewable energy in Mexico, in a reliable and affordable way.

Kerry also emphasized Mexico’s energy potential for renewables. “The country has two coasts with great wind potential, as well as mountains and other places for solar photovoltaic generation. You have an extraordinary sun resource, unlike many countries in the north. You must take advantage of this natural energy," Kerry said during the meeting. The representative also called for immediate action on renewable energy development. He warned that the world cannot wait for new technologies to begin to address the global temperature increase. “If we all just wait for new technology, then we will exceed the 1.5 degrees mark and we will not be able to reverse it”. 

Salazar commented that the recent report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is an urgent call to act against this phenomenon. “We have to act quickly and efficiently because we are running very behind,” he said. The ambassador recalled that during Kerry’s visit, conversations with President López Obrador focused on climate change, as well as complying with the US’s and Mexico’s climate commitments. 

Salazar stated that both countries would soon hold follow-up meetings to bring actions to reality. He pointed out that the private sector plays a crucial role in the renewable energy transition, both in terms of investment and financing, as well as in terms of technology. “We are ready for them to be part of the efforts to provide clean, affordable and reliable energy to our nations.” However, President López Obrador’s administration has not been particularly welcoming to private energy investment, including in the renewables sector, which has carried out disputes with the US and Canada under the USMCA treaty. Nonetheless, Kerry appeared optimistic in this matter. “President López Obrador wants to undo some of the wrongs of the past and help promote the interests of the people. It is clear to me that he understands the degree to which our futures are now inextricably linked,” he said.

According to Salazar, President Biden is committed to the climate agenda to consolidate America’s leadership in the fight against climate change. “As we move forward on this agenda, our countries not only do the right thing but also benefit our nations with better-paying jobs and investments, while charting a path to a more hopeful future,” his statement reads.