Mexico’s Congress Urges Clear Rules to Boost Carbon Market

Mexico’s Congress held a forum on the country’s developing carbon market, emphasizing the need for clear regulations and coordinated policies to drive emissions reduction and sustainable growth. Organized by the Commission on Climate Change and Sustainability and chaired by Deputy Alejandra Chedraui Peralta of the Green Party (PVEM), the event sought to position the carbon market as a key tool to assign economic value to greenhouse gas reductions and boost clean technology investment.

“This instrument must serve sustainable development, and its success depends on the participation of all sectors—the state providing solid regulation and the private sector investing responsibly,” Chedraui said, calling the forum “a first step toward consolidating a national carbon system based on environmental integrity, economic value, and social justice.”

Andrea Hurtado Epstein, Director General for Climate Action Policies at SEMARNAT, highlighted Mexico’s Emissions Trading System, which caps emissions and allocates tradable rights to companies. José Ramón Ardavín, Executive Director, CESPEDES, urged lawmakers to classify CO₂ emissions under federal jurisdiction. “Carbon dioxide is a global gas; its regulation should fall to the federal government, which represents Mexico in international commitments,” he said.

Participants called for a shift from compensation-based approaches to regenerative models that restore ecosystems and strengthen local communities. Arturo Rech, CEO, Mexhub Circular Economy and Sustainability, said carbon offset projects must generate tangible community benefits, not just reforestation. Juan García Azgun, head of the Ejido Commission of Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, shared a conservation model integrating ancestral knowledge, modern science, and community management—preserving 70% of local territory through biological corridors.

Marco Hernández, CEO, Carbonof, stressed that sustainability requires “a shared compass” across sectors to create environmental, social, and economic value. Speaking prior to the conference, he underscored the need to follow global certification standards such as those from Verra, the Climate Action Reserve, and the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). He also emphasized social safeguards, transparency, and informed consent for landowners before launching projects.

Speakers also urged the diversification of carbon offset initiatives. Luis Colín, Technical Manager, Mexico2, called for more projects in biodigesters, petrochemicals, and waste management, noting that most current offsets are forest-based. “Mexico will not meet its climate goals relying solely on forestry,” he warned.

To address transport-related emissions, Jesús Edgardo Araiza, CEO, Compass Blue, presented a proposal to implement Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology, which can cut vehicle emissions by up to 95% through automotive urea systems