During her participation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, stated that Mexico has prioritized conserving at least 30% of its territory by 2030, in line with international environmental protection commitments.
The official described this moment as the beginning of a “restoration era”, in which the country must move from passive conservation to the active recovery of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, given the critical levels of environmental degradation.
Planetary Boundaries and Urgency for Action
The approach is based on the scientific framework of planetary boundaries, which warns that human activity has already surpassed key thresholds such as climate, biodiversity, and land use, increasing the risk of irreversible damage.
The restoration and conservation of ecosystems are considered necessary actions to reduce pressure on the planet and maintain its stability.
Protected Areas and Objectives
Mexico currently has 99 million hectares of protected natural areas, including jungles, mangroves, forests, and marine ecosystems. The goal is to expand and strengthen this network to reach the 30% target by the end of the decade.
The policy has an environmental and climate focus, as ecosystem restoration contributes to the reduction of emissions and adaptation to climate change.
Nature-Based Solutions
Highlighted measures include:
- Restoration of mangroves and strategic ecosystems, with high carbon capture capacity.
- Integration of these projects into emission compensation schemes.
- Using nature as the axis of the national climate policy.
Bárcena acknowledged that Mexico cannot yet completely eliminate the use of fossil fuels but reiterated the commitment to move towards a net-zero emissions scenario, combining emission reductions with environmental compensation mechanisms.
Compatibility Between Development and Protection
The official emphasized that nature protection can be compatible with economic development by integrating environmental criteria into:
- Investment schemes.
- Carbon markets.
- Decarbonization strategies.
This approach seeks to leave behind extractivism and environmental degradation as growth drivers, placing ecosystem restoration as a central component of public environmental policy.
Current Situation: Dependence on Fossil Fuels
Mexico maintains a high dependence on hydrocarbons, which represented between 75% and 87% of the energy and electricity matrix between 2022 and 2025.
Electricity Generation
- In 2024-2025, 74.9% of electricity was generated from fossil sources.
- Natural gas dominates, followed by fuel oil and coal.
Transport and Industry
- 63% of energy consumption in transport comes from gasoline.
- 27% from diesel.
- In industry, natural gas predominates (32%), followed by petroleum coke (11%) and coal (7%).
Imports
- Mexico relies heavily on natural gas imported from the U.S., covering 60% of demand.
- It also imports gasoline.
Environmental Impact
- 64% of pollutant emissions come from fossil fuels.
- They contribute to respiratory diseases and environmental degradation.
Trends and Challenges
- Projections of increase: a 3% increase in GHG emissions is anticipated by 2037.
- Slow transition: by 2050, only 50% of energy demand would be covered by renewables.
- Insufficient infrastructure: industries like data centers depend on diesel and gas generators.
- Depleted reserves: proven oil reserves have been reduced by 88%.
Mexico faces the challenge of balancing energy security with emission reductions, in a context of high fossil dependency.
The goal of conserving 30% of the territory by 2030 and advancing towards ecological restoration represents a paradigm shift: integrating nature as an ally in climate policy and demonstrating that environmental protection can be compatible with economic development.
