Carbon Tax Forum Prepares Juarez Industries for Regulation

The Ciudad Juarez municipal government and the Association of Maquiladoras Index Juarez are organizing a Carbon Tax Forum to help prepare for the potential introduction of a carbon tax in Chihuahua. The free event, scheduled for Jan. 23 at the Index Auditorium, aims to inform local businesses about upcoming regulatory changes related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon inventories.

The forum will bring together specialists, public officials, and environmental compliance professionals to explain how carbon taxes function and how companies can measure and manage their emissions. Targeted sectors include manufacturing, energy generation, and transportation. Carlos Montoya, who will moderate the event, emphasized the forum’s timeliness following Mexico’s emissions reduction commitments at the COP30 summit in Belem, Brazil, in November 2025. At the conference, Mexico pledged to achieve net GHG reductions between 364 and 404 million tons of CO₂ by 2035—a 31% to 37% cut from business-as-usual projections.

Montoya noted that Mexico’s national climate strategy could lead to the expansion of carbon tax regulations nationwide. “Although this regulation currently applies in 11 states, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s commitments indicate the scheme could extend across the country,” he said. Companies with high emissions will be required to measure pollutants to determine compliance. Current caps, based on energy consumption, can reach up to 25,000 metric tons of carbon, though thresholds may tighten as regulations expand. Companies exceeding limits would pay a tax or could offset emissions by purchasing carbon credits, funding environmental projects such as local forestry initiatives.

Tania Maldonado Garduño, municipal director of economic development, said the forum enjoys the backing of Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar and is part of Ciudad Juárez’s support for local businesses. As one of Mexico’s most important industrial cities, early preparation for environmental regulations is essential.

Currently, 11 Mexican states enforce carbon taxes, including Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Mexico City, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, State of Mexico, Tamaulipas, Yucatan, and Morelos. Speaking at the 2025 Mexico Carbon Forum in Tampico, Mexican Stock Exchange deputy director general Ramón Güémez highlighted that carbon taxes and markets are vital for decarbonization, channeling investment into projects with social and environmental impact.

Mexico Prepares for an Emissions Trading System

At the forum, Güémez also stressed the importance of implementing Mexico’s national Emissions Trading System (ETS), currently in its pilot phase. Once operational, the ETS will price nearly 30% of Mexico’s carbon emissions, requiring companies to either reduce emissions or purchase credits.

Miguel Chavarría of South Pole said the ETS will significantly affect cost structures, competitiveness, and investment decisions, particularly for industries exceeding 100,000 tons of CO₂ emissions, such as energy and manufacturing. “Proactive companies can reduce financial exposure under carbon regulations while planning strategic decarbonization, ensuring compliance, and maintaining competitiveness in domestic and international markets,” he said. 

In August 2025, the Consultative Committee of the Emissions Trading System (COCOSCE) held its first ordinary session at SEMARNAT, reviewing the 2024 activity report, the 2025 work program, and regulatory updates for Phase 1 of the ETS to enhance operations and transparency. Members agreed to coordinate the publication of regulations for the next phase and reaffirmed the joint commitment between SEMARNAT and the private sector. José Luis Samaniego, Deputy Minister of Sustainable Development and Circular Economy, SEMARNAT, said the ETS will be a critical tool in advancing Mexico’s transition to a low-carbon economy.