Mexico's Environmental Performance Lags Behind Global Commitments

At the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference, COP 15, over 190 countries committed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, aiming to protect 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by 2030. This target, known as 30x30, represents a major global effort to safeguard biodiversity. However, recent data from the 2024 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) reveals that many of these protected areas are failing to meet their conservation goals.

The EPI, published by Yale University and Columbia University, assesses 180 countries on sustainability metrics, including climate change mitigation and ecosystem protection. The 2024 report shows that many protected areas, or "paper parks," continue to face threats from commercial activities like mining and fishing. Notably, 23 countries have over 10% of their protected land covered by croplands and buildings, while 35 countries experience more fishing activity within marine protected areas than outside.

"Protected areas are failing to achieve their goals in different ways," said Sebastián Block Munguía, lead author of the report. He pointed out that in Europe, destructive fishing occurs inside marine protected areas, and many developing countries struggle with enforcement due to limited resources.

In this global context, Mexico’s environmental performance has been a point of concern. According to the 2024 EPI, Mexico ranks 94th out of 180 countries. The index highlights Mexico's challenges in areas such as forest management, wastewater treatment, and biodiversity. For instance, Mexico is positioned 131st in the effectiveness of its protected areas and 141st in biodiversity and habitats. The country faces significant hurdles in addressing air quality, with a ranking of 129th, and waste management, at 127th.

The EPI emphasizes the urgent need for countries to enhance their environmental protection efforts. "The 2024 Environmental Performance Index highlights a range of critical sustainability challenges from climate change to biodiversity loss and beyond," said Daniel Esty, Director, Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy.