Mexico is the world’s 13th largest greenhouse gas emitter. Its dynamic industrial activity and the omnipresence of private cars are the main reasons for this. 
The Mexican Government is fully aware of the environmental issues and is very proactive. Its Special Climate Change Program has an ambitious target: reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050.

AFD is supporting this national effort and the revitalization of Mexico’s economy via “climate loans”. The target issues are:

• Forest preservation;
• The ecological development of the territory; 
• Climate change economics;
• The adaptation of agriculture to climate change.

AFD is also supporting Mexico’s energy transition. Our action: renovate and rehabilitate water and power infrastructure. We are assisting the Federal Electricity Commission and Water Management Agency in:

• Upgrading gas-fired power plants and reducing their carbon footprint;
• Reforming the water sector and improving its governance.

Mexico’s variety of climates and landscapes makes it a biodiversity hotspot: the diversity of its ecosystems is unique in the world. The country is indeed home to over 10% of global species. However, the overexploitation of natural resources is threatening this heritage. AFD uses the model of French regional nature parks to develop Mexico’s natural resources and promote an ecological development of the territory.

Stemming deforestation 

Over the past fifteen years, Mexico has lost between 300,000 and 800,000 hectares of forests a year. At this rate, forests will have completely disappeared from the country over the coming half century. Deforestation increases greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerability to climate change in Mexico. 

We are working closely with intermunicipal associations on forest conservation projects and we are gearing up for Mexico’s entry into the REDD+ mechanism.
 

Mexico’s development has led to uncontrolled urban sprawl. This urban explosion has negative consequences on the quality of housing, public services and the environment, and fuels inequalities.

AFD is working alongside Mexico to promote sustainable urban development and participatory governance. Two projects are currently being implemented:

• Renovating Mexico City’s metro to provide high-quality public transport and reduce the number of private vehicles in the capital;
• Improving governance in the Mexico City region and rethinking the sustainable development of territories. AFD and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) are supporting the lake region of Xochimilco for urban planning and improving water reserve management.

 
When children rethink cities

During the competition for ideas “¿Qué ciudad de México queremos para mañana?”, AFD and Mexico City gave a voice to children from the Mexican capital. Several hundred primary school pupils gave recommendations on how to improve the urban spaces in which they will grow up. For the first time, they were able to make their voice heard during the UN Habitat III Summit. 
 

AFD wants to take things further in Mexico: it is seeking to scale up its action to support the energy transition and to become more involved in the fight against climate change and the sustainable use of natural resources. Research is currently being conducted on energy efficiency in Mexico City’s hospitals. 

Another objective is to include the gender dimension in our climate projects. 

We also aim to further extend our partnership with actors operating in Mexico. We are managing several projects financed by the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), which aim to: destroy ozone-depleting substances, develop sustainable fishing, and protect marine and lake areas.

To build the capacities of defenders of rights, we are supporting several NGOs, such as Doctors of the World (MDM), the Movement for a Non-violent Alternative and the French Committee for a Civil Peace Intervention. 

Finally, we are a partner of the Mario Molina Research Institute, which provides public authorities with solutions to combat climate change.