Transcript Presentation

SEMARNAT MEXICO
CLIMATE CHANGE
A PERSPECTIVE FROM MEXICO
Seminar of Governmental Experts
Bonn, 16-17th of May, 2005
As a developing country, Mexico:
 adopts poverty
absolute priority
erradication
as
an
 avoids policies that may jeopardize
development/ economic growth
 perceives climate change as both a threat
and an opportunity to foster sustainable
development
 is risk-averse [climate change impacts/
response measures]
Climate Action
 Strengthening
national capacities
is the foundation
for improved output
in terms of GHG
emissions

A step-bystep process
involving
subsequent cycles:
capacity/ P & Ms/
actions/
monitoring/
evaluation
 Setting up institutions



Administration
Law / Regulations
Functional clusters
Institutional Development
 Office of Climate Change at SEMARNAT
(2003)
 Intersectoral Committee for Climate Change
Mitigation Projects (NDA) (early 2004)
 Climate Change Committee for the Energy
Sector (February, 2005)
 InterMinisterial Climate Change Commission:
April 25, 2005
 Law on Renewable Energy (in progress)
Seven Functional Clusters
1.
Preparation of GHG inventories & Nat´l Coms
2.
Formulation of CC policies (incl. reporting,
monitoring, assessment)
3.
Intersectoral, multilevel coordination
4.
Research & Development on CC
5.
Promotion & control of mitigation projects (AIJ,
CDM); adaptation projects
6.
Participation of civil society in CC policies
(business,NGOs, other stakeholders)
7.
Effective participation in CC negotiations
Functional Development I
 Virtual Cap & Trade for CO2 throughout the Oil &
Gas sector (PEMEX, the State monopoly)
 Workshops promoting CDM in different States
 Governmental promotion of the GHG Protocol
(WRI/ WBCSD): setting up of two pilot groups
of public and private enterprises, including
entire productive sectors
 First Non-Annex I country to produce a Second
National Communication (2001)
Functional Development II
Currently working on:
 A new Inventory of GHG Emissions from all sectors
(ready: end 2005)
 New National Strategy for Climate Action, in
collaboration with the Mario Molina Center and
academic / business institutions (ready: end 2005)
 Third National Communication (published: end 2006)
CDM: a failed opportunity?
• In Latin America CDM induced positive
institutional arrangements
• CDM has not lived up to expectations so far
• Areas of dissatisfaction in Mexico:
 CDM unable to strike an adequate balance
between effectiveness and environmental
integrity
 Crippling transaction costs
 Insufficient flow of approved
methodologies/ projects
 CDM may become a perverse incentive
preventing developing countries from
mobilizing its own potential to a full extent
Some conceptual standpoints I
 Short term / long term
Current action is framed by some vision of what might be the
medium / long term evolution of the international climate
regime
 Advanced developing countries
In the context of common but differentiated responsibilities,
further differentiation among developing countries should be
effected
 Inaction
Other Parties inaction or non-compliance should not be an
excuse for not carrying out one’s own best efforts. It may
however affect nature and scope of commitments
Some conceptual standpoints II
 Action / commitments
For the scope of meeting the ultimate objective of
UNFCCC, progressive climate action is more significant than
the adoption of legally binding commitments, especially if
the latter are limited to ensure compliance
 Compliance
Buying in external carbon markets or facing sanctions for
non-compliance would be socially /politically unacceptable
 Equity
Equity concerns: essential. Per capita emissions and their
evolution should play a more central role in the
international regime
 Flexibility
National circumstances; differentiated needs. Flexible
convergence of per capita emissions
Evolution of GHG emissions & commitments
GHG
per
capita
Country 1
Obligation to
reduce
Global GHG
emissions
f(Average per capita)
Country 2
Country 3
No hot air
Incentives to bring
the baseline down
Flexibility in the
convergence
process:
f1
f2
Country 4
Time
To be discussed...
 Types of commitments
Binding vs non-binding; Pledge & Review...

Commitment contents

From projects to entire economic sectors

P & M, CC / Environmental Regs

Dynamic targets:
GHGs / GDP: may be flawed
Carbon efficiency standards:
GHGs / ton of cement, steel, Al, thermal KWh, ton
road freight, etc

Incentives for overcompliance
THANK YOU