Sheinbaum Shares Advances on Sustainability, Environment

During a State of the Nation address celebrating her first year in office, President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted her administration’s advances on promoting sustainable development and environmental protection. 

Sheinbaum stated that her administration’s goal is to achieve 35% renewable energy usage by 2030. In 2024, Mexico sourced just 22% of its energy from renewable sources, lower than the global average of 32% and nearly two-thirds lower than the average in Latin America. As part of this goal, Sheinbaum noted the initiation of 42 technological development projects focused on fostering smart grids, energy efficiency, and lower power usage. Seeking to promote energy justice, the Sheinbaum administration has also worked with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to electrify Indigenous communities in Durango, while also launching a wood stove program for Purépecha communities across Michoacan. On average, wood stoves are up to five times more energy efficient than open fires, resulting in decreased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increased individual health indicators. 

Speaking on water security and sovereignty, Sheinbaum noted the June launch of the Comprehensive Plan for the East of the State of Mexico, which will mitigate flood risk around the capital through the construction of a 1,800m rainwater collector in Chalco. In Acapulco, Guerrero, the government has cleaned and dredged the Aguas Blancas, El Camaron, and La Garita storm drains, while reinforcing the Papagayo II Aqueduct. Other projects in the city include the completion of 161 water purification and 79 sewerage projects. These investments, totalling MX$8 billion, are set to benefit over 800,000 residents living in the popular Pacific resort city. Sheinbaum also emphasized the government’s commitment to cleaning the Tula, Lerma-Santiago, and Atoyac Rivers, which have faced severe degradation due to industrial activity. 

The issue of mangroves also featured prominently in her speech. According to Sheinbaum, over 987ha of mangroves have been restored across Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Environmentalists, including Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Alicia Bárcena, have emphasized the importance of such reforestation in recent weeks, given the fact that mangroves store carbon at four times the rate of tropical forests and protect coasts from hurricanes. Speaking at the Ministerial Reunion for Latin America and the Caribbean for the Implementation of Regional Climate Action, Bárcena argued that "mangroves are the great protectors of the coasts.” She also detailed specific reforestation efforts being undertaken, including the Coastal Communities against Climate Change and Contamination (C-5) program, which works with fishing communities along the Caribbean coast to restore mangroves.

Sheinbaum’s address also expanded on her administration’s efforts to protect biological diversity. Focusing on protection of the Vaquita porpoise and the Totoaba fish — critically endangered species at-risk from illegal fishing in the Gulf of California — the president reported 293 maritime and land surveillance patrols, in addition to 118 inspections of port facilities and the installation of 89 observation posts. According to Sheinbaum, these actions led to the seizure of 12 illegal vessels, 19 sets of improper fishing equipment, and 103 totoaba specimens. On Aug. 28, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, in coordination with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, announced that a joint observation cruise would be carried out from Sept. 3-30, with the goal of recording and protecting the 8-10 remaining Vaquitas still left in the wild.