Introduction
All human beings rely on the balance of the biosphere: the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the oceans that connect our destinies. The care of these common goods, especially ecological ones, requires assuming a shared responsibility: maintaining the delicate balance that allows life on our planet.
Current Global Challenges
Today, humanity faces two simultaneous crises that threaten this balance and human development: climate change and ocean degradation. Climate change, described by Nicholas Stern as “the greatest market failure of all time,” is exacerbated daily by plastic pollution, overexploitation, and the accelerated degradation of marine ecosystems. Both threats are complex, interdependent, and global in scale.
More than 3.5 billion people live in highly vulnerable contexts to climate change. Extreme weather events like hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity. If we fail to address these issues, the resources needed to cope with losses and damages will far exceed those required to mitigate the climate crisis. If we surpass 2°C of average temperature increase, as warned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to which President Claudia Sheinbaum belonged, the damages will be irreversible.
Simultaneously, oceans face unprecedented pressure, affecting the world’s food and energy security. Over 3 billion people directly depend on ocean ecosystems for sustenance and livelihood. In reality, we all depend on them: 80% of global trade travels by sea, and oceans capture 30% of human-emitted CO2 and more than 90% of global heat generated by climate change.
Mexico’s Leadership in Climate Action and Ocean Agenda
By instruction of President Sheinbaum, I had the honor of leading the Mexican delegation at the Climate Ministerial Summit in Copenhagen and the Third Global Ocean Conference in Nice. In both world forums, we reiterated that addressing these emergencies requires a structural transformation of the economic, social, and environmental model.
In line with Mexico’s Ecological and Environmental Humanist Policy, we have assumed concrete and ambitious commitments as sustainable solutions for Mexico and a guide for regional correspondence and cooperation. We aim to lead and position ourselves as an active actor contributing with measurable actions.
- Protect 30% of our marine and terrestrial surfaces;
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030;
- Reforest 100,000 hectares;
- Restore half of our mangroves;
- Cleanse the most polluted basins and rivers, and improve air quality in the most populated metropolitan areas of the country, bringing environmental justice to long-standing claims.
Additionally, we will promote two circular economy parks and at least a dozen recycling plants across the territory. These actions are not isolated; they form part of a new paradigm where circular economy, clean air, biodiversity conservation, and protection of natural resources reinforce each other.
The oceans, like the people, also have a voice. Mexico raises its voice to build a sustainable present and a more just future. No individual, company, or nation, however powerful, can stop the ecological change we are embarking on together.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the current global challenges? Humanity faces two simultaneous crises: climate change and ocean degradation. Climate change, described as “the greatest market failure of all time,” is exacerbated by plastic pollution, overexploitation, and marine ecosystem degradation. Ocean pressure affects global food and energy security.
- Why is Mexico taking action? Mexico, under President Claudia Sheinbaum’s instruction, is assuming a leadership role in climate action and the ocean agenda. This involves transforming the economic, social, and environmental model to address these global challenges.
- What commitments has Mexico assumed? Mexico has committed to protecting 30% of its marine and terrestrial surfaces, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030, reforesting 100,000 hectares, restoring half of its mangroves, cleansing polluted basins and rivers, and improving air quality in populated areas. Additionally, Mexico plans to promote circular economy parks and recycling plants.
