Claudia Sheinbaum, an Environmental Leader

In addition to making history as the first woman to assume the role of President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum is one of the world’s politicians distinguished by prioritizing the environmental agenda during her public service tenures.

Avelina Ruiz, Climate Change Manager at the World Resources Institute (WRI) Mexico, told Mente Mujer that “as head of government in Mexico City, Sheinbaum made her firm commitment to a sustainable urban agenda clear, promoting key projects in mobility, energy, and the recovery of public spaces.”

Ruiz also highlighted that “the President’s contribution as an author in one of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports reinforces her deep knowledge and active participation in addressing the world’s major environmental challenges.”

Among Sheinbaum’s numerous academic works are articles analyzing how Mexico can carry out the energy transition, moving from a system almost entirely based on fossil fuels to renewable energies such as wind, solar, and geothermal.

Mexico City made headlines in early 2024 for speculation that its taps could run dry in a few months. Fortunately, this “Day Zero” did not materialize, but it underscored Mexico’s broader water crisis, which is intensifying due to climate change.

This is why the next six-year administration could be uniquely positioned to tackle these challenges, as the President holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering and has a solid track record of impact, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI).

“Claudia is an environmental scientist and, unlike her mentor, AMLO, she believes in decarbonization and promoting renewable energies,” Shannon O’Neil, a Mexico specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations, told The New York Times.

Regarding Mexico’s energy sector, Sheinbaum said during her campaign that she wanted to expand renewable energy infrastructure but also noted that she would continue to support Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and keep it under state control.

As head of government of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum worked to expand public transportation and implement one of the largest solar plants in the world.

Avelina Ruiz highlighted the appointment of Alicia Bárcena as Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources, who has extensive experience promoting the sustainable development agenda in Mexico and regionally as Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Both the cabinet announcements and the work priorities outlined by the President send a positive signal about the importance that the climate and environmental agenda will have in the new administration,” Ruiz noted.

Opportunities

Energy Sector:

• Investment in transmission infrastructure.
• Interconnection of a growing renewable energy generation market.
• Energy efficiency in buildings.
• Reduction of methane emissions.
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Achieving socioeconomic benefits.

Urban Sector:

• Decarbonization of transportation.
• Establishing value chains in the production of clean national vehicles.
• Expanding the electric public transportation system.
• Improving a service that affects millions of people.
• Reducing energy consumption and mitigating emissions.
• Improving public health and quality of life.

Natural Resources Sector:

• Restoration and sustainable management of ecosystems.
• Strengthening the adaptive capacity of communities.
• Coastal infrastructure, including ports and tourist developments.
• Promoting nature conservation and reducing emissions.

Source: World Resources Institute (WRI)

Nota publicada originalmente en El Heraldo de México.