Mexico Needs Multisectoral Agenda to Tackle Climate Change

Q: Mexico has not had a national pavilion at a COP summit for a decade. What inspired you to launch this National Pavillion project, and why is it so important for the Mexican private sector to have representation at COP30?

A: Climate change affects everyone and every sector. For too long, we have treated it as a separate issue for environmentalists. Even at the government level, it has been aligned almost exclusively with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). With a multisectoral and interinstitutional agenda, Mexico could once again become a leader in the climate change space.

At last year’s COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, Mexico had no official space at the summit despite the attendance of about 60 Mexicans from diverse sectors, including academics, scientists, and business representatives. This highlighted a cross-sectorial need for a dedicated platform from which Mexico could present itself to the word.

Q: What are your main objectives for COP30, and how do those objectives influence the pavilion’s design?

A: We see the pavilion as a strategic platform for attracting foreign investment, not just as a tool for communications or PR. We want to showcase opportunities in Mexico for investment in climate initiatives and solutions. This is where the Ministry of Economy will play a fundamental role, as our pavilion closely aligns with President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Plan México.

The pavilion spans 200m2 and comprises three key areas. The main area will host panel discussions, with talks and analysis being given by industry excerpts. The second area is a press room, which we consider vital because media coverage on sustainability in Mexico remains limited, with communication often being too technical to reach the general public. The third area is an exhibition space that will showcase multimedia works from 12 renowned Mexican artists, each focused on a different climate change issue. We see this third space as a more engaging way to communicate the critical issues being discussed at COP30.

Q: What specific projects or groups will be highlighted at the pavilion?

A: Our goal is to shift the perception that these spaces must be purely governmental. We want to decentralize participation, and make the Mexican Pavillion as plural and diverse as possible. We also want to ensure visibility for local communities and indigenous populations. We will have representation from the National Council of Indigenous Peoples (CNPI), as well as an Indigenous Federation that seeks to promote indigenous-led sustainable enterprises.

We will also have representatives from organizations such as COPARMEX, ICC Mexico, and UN-Habitat. Furthermore, the fintech sector has strongly supported the initiative, particularly collective financing institutions that help attract real investment. The pavilion is diverse, and we review every project carefully to ensure thematic coherence throughout. We are still adding new partners. 

Q: What specific role will groups such as COPARMEX, ICC Mexico, and others play in the pavilion?

A: These chambers provide invaluable data to the Mexican Pavilion. We are not going to Brazil to improvise; we are going to be performing detailed economic intelligence, cross-referencing Ministry of Economy information with sectorial data from these chambers. Their international alliances are also crucial. For example, the Mexico-Brazil Chamber of Commerce will assist with commercial logistics, which is particularly important given Belém’s infrastructure challenges. Hotels have long been sold out, and the government has even had to repurpose schools and contract cruise ships for lodging. Prices remain sky-high, ranging from US$700 to US$1,000 per night. In this context, partnering with chambers that have experience and know-how ensures that the pavilion will operate smoothly and avoids challenges on-site.

Much of this effort requires co-creation and analysis. We are not merely inviting participants to go and represent themselves; we are representing Mexico as a brand. 

Q: What benefits do potential partners get from joining the pavilion?

A: First, Mexico is updating its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) this year to determine how to meet international climate goals agreed as part of the 2015 Paris Accords. Second, the UN 2030 Agenda is only five years away. As such, companies will increasingly have to integrate sustainability policies and initiatives within their business model. This will require tactical planning and, more importantly, financing for green projects. 

COP30 represents a crucial opportunity to make sustainability efforts visible and find the funding necessary to capitalize these projects. We also estimate that there will be between 2,600 and 3,000 international journalists in attendance. So the media visibility will be large, which will also benefit partners.

Q: How are you collaborating with government representatives to present a unified approach?

A: Part of the challenge is aligning agendas between ministries to present a unified approach. Working with the government adds complexity, but it also brings openness and sensitivity, and has given us a strong foundation. The backbone will be Plan México, specifically Goal 10, which focuses on sustainability.

COP pavilions have two zones: green, for NGOs and companies, and blue, for national pavilions, which are not open to the public. The blue zone offers high-quality networking and negotiation opportunities with countries that have national pavilions. While institutional support is necessary, the participation of officials will ultimately be determined by their agendas.

Q: What role will indigenous peoples, perspectives, and practices play within the pavilion? 

A: Their participation is fundamental. We have two key partnerships: one with CNPI and the other with the Federation of Indigenous Business and Local Communities of Mexico, which is a network of indigenous-led enterprises across the country. We are bringing these groups because it is crucial to advance initiatives that indigenous entrepreneurs have been working on for years. It is also about breaking the centralized perspective and showing that climate innovation also emerges from the local, traditional, and communal knowledge that exists throughout Mexico. 

Youth will also be crucial. We formed a valuable partnership with an NGO called Reacciona, which is part of the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY). This association represents over 300 Mexican youth-led NGOs. 

Q: How does the pavilion intend to attract investment and financing to advance initiatives to fight climate change? 

A: Mexico is attractive because of its strategic position. The country has over 14 international trade agreements covering 50 countries, and it is the sixth most visited country by international tourists, aiming to climb to fifth. 

We are launching a mobile application, which is in beta for iOS and Android, that will allow users to see Mexico’s pavilion programming over the 11 days of COP30. This is particularly important because it is a closed event, and our goal is to connect all sectors to what Mexico is presenting. The app will include an interactive map of Mexico, showing participating states and companies. Users can click on a state to see a technical profile of public and private projects seeking investment. For example, they could click on Quintana Roo to see a project summary and investment opportunities. This generates data to identify which sectors interest other countries and companies, helping to guide potential collaborations.

Q: What measures are you implementing to ensure the pavilion’s sustainability?

A: We plan to establish a dedicated fund or trust next year specifically for the pavilion, ensuring its sustainability through 2030. This aligns with the NDC updates and the 2030 Agenda. We cannot postpone progress on ambitious goals until 2040; we need to act in the short term to make progress tangible for everyone.

Q: Which sectors or companies are you targeting for investment, and what criteria must they meet?

A: Our roadmap is guided by Plan México, focusing on strategic sectors such as water management, waste management and recycling, electromobility, and clean energy. Each state has its own needs, so we review projects based on whether they meet these criteria. Experts in environmental law, finance, and rural community development assess all submissions. We aim for representation from nearly all regions of the country, though not all states are equally prepared legally or regulatory-wise. Similarly, we seek socially responsible companies with sustainable projects and corporate social responsibility programs.

Q: What criteria will Mexico have to meet to become a global reference in sustainability, and how will the COP30 pavilion and future pavilions help achieve this?

A: The challenge is no longer technical; it is financial. We must strategically clarify where the country needs to invest. Often, multiple government agendas create confusion among the public, so we must coordinate with academics and scientists to identify the critical intervention points where we can reverse processes or adapt effectively.

A central part of our plan is to have a national pavilion at every COP leading up to 2030. Each year, we will aim for continuity, building on the previous year’s work rather than improvising annually. Every strategic actor will know how to contribute to the project. This ensures that the initiative becomes more than a one-year project and turns into a sustained movement.