Mexico is undergoing a **severe climate crisis** that is more intense than global averages indicate. Researchers from the **National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)** warn that, from the pre-industrial period to 2024, **the temperature in the country increased by 1.8°C**. This increase surpasses the global average, which is around 1.2°C, suggesting an **accelerated warming trend**.
Francisco Estrada Porrúa, head of the Climate Change Research Program at UNAM, explained that while the planet is warming at a rate of 2°C per century, **Mexico’s rate is 3.2°C per century since 1975**. This alarming pace led scientists to question whether the planet’s ability to self-regulate is being underestimated or if, simply put, **the climate crisis is intensifying** faster than expected.
The year 2024 **broke all temperature records on the planet** and was also the first year where, consistently, the global increase of 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial era was surpassed. In Mexico, this figure has been consistently exceeded over the past year and a half. Recent years such as 2016, 2017, 2020, 2023, and 2024 also exceeded this critical limit.
The most alarming data: in 2024, the country **recorded an average temperature of 2.14°C above pre-industrial levels**, surpassing the 2023 record by 0.4°C.
## Extreme Phenomena and Visible Consequences
During the event *Climate Change in Mexico: Trends, Risks, and Policies*, Estrada Porrúa warned that, despite the presence of **phenomena like El Niño and La Niña**, which usually influence temporary cooling of the planet, **temperatures did not decrease**. On the contrary, they remain high.
**Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme phenomena** in the country. In 2021, for example, Mexico experienced a historic drought that emptied its reservoirs and reduced lakes like Cuitzeo to arid expanses. A few months later, intense rains caused severe floods in the State of Mexico, Jalisco, Chihuahua, and Hidalgo, resulting in **river overflows and a toll of destruction and victims**.
In the spring of 2024, **at least 21 federal entities recorded temperatures between 35°C and 45°C**. Images of children bathing in public fountains to cope with the heat became common postcards of the extreme climate affecting the country.
## Urgent Call to Climate Action
Enrique Provencio Durazo, from the University Program for Development Studies, emphasized the urgency of **integrating climate action** as a central axis of national development. He pointed out that this strategy must align with international commitments such as the Paris Agreement, have political support, and sufficient resources to be effective.
“Climate action costs, but it also offers enormous benefits. It should not only be seen as environmental justice, but as **a bet for progress**,” Provencio emphasized.
Naxhelli Ruiz Rivera, from the UNAM Institute of Geography, highlighted the need to **connect climate change with social rights**. According to the specialist, reducing risks should focus not only on material damages but also on improving structural opportunities for the most vulnerable population.
## Mexico Facing the Climate Crisis: Social Perception and Uncertain Future
Social perception also reflects concern: 93% of Mexicans demand **stricter measures from their governments to address climate change**, according to a recent survey by the European Investment Bank.
**Water scarcity**, one of the most visible consequences, already affects half of the population. In 2022, several boroughs in Mexico City experienced water supply cuts, and in the northern part of the country, the situation even led to protests due to a lack of access to clean water.
The future does not look promising either: **75% of respondents believe they could be forced to migrate** to another region or country due to the consequences of climate change. The challenge, experts agree, is not only climatic but also social, economic, and political. Mexico needs to act urgently to **halt warming and protect the lives of its inhabitants**.
## Radiography of a Climate Crisis: Causes Behind Warming in Mexico
The climate crisis in Mexico is not a new or isolated phenomenon. Its impact intensifies due to a **combination of structural and environmental factors** that place the country among the most vulnerable to global warming, despite its emissions representing only a small percentage of the global total.
One of the key factors is the **heavy dependence on fossil fuels**. Most of the energy comes from oil, gas, and coal, delaying the transition to renewable energies. Public policies **prioritized hydrocarbons** over sustainable solutions.
**Deforestation**, resulting from agricultural and urban expansion, also worsens the situation. By clearing forests and jungles, a natural tool for carbon absorption is lost, **rainfall patterns are altered**, and desertification advances in several regions.
Moreover, **urban growth without planning** has created **heat islands**, water scarcity, and increased exposure to extreme phenomena. Events like El Niño intensify droughts and floods, leaving the country defenseless against climate change.
