Mexico on Friday submitted its INDC to the UN, committing unconditionally to keep its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions at 25% below BAU levels, while the target could increase to 40% if conditions were met, such as putting in place an international carbon price.
The submission marked the first time Mexico pledges an unconditional greenhouse gas target to the UN, and means its emissions will peak in 2026.
Mexico’s pledge said:
• Mexico is committed to reduce unconditionally 25% of its Greenhouse Gases and Short Lived Climate Pollutants emissions (below BAU) for the year 2030. This commitment implies a reduction of 22% of GHG and a reduction of 51% of Black Carbon.
• This commitment implies a net emissions peak starting from 2026, decoupling GHG emissions from economic growth: emissions intensity per unit of GDP will reduce by around 40% from 2013 to 2030.
• The 25% reduction commitment expressed above could increase up to a 40% in a conditional manner, subject to a global agreement addressing important topics including international carbon price, carbon border adjustments, technical cooperation, access to low- cost financial resources and technology transfer, all at a scale commensurate to the challenge of global climate change.
• Within the same conditions, GHG reductions could increase up to 36%, and Black Carbon reductions to 70% in 2030.
The baseline scenario assumes Mexico’s total emissions, including both GHGs and black carbon, will hit 906 million tonnes of CO2e in 2020 and 1,110 million tonnes in 2030.
The baseline means Mexico’s GHG target in 2030 is 614 million tonnes compared to 787 million in the baseline scenario.
“In order to achieve rapid and cost efficient mitigation, robust global market based mechanism will be essential,” it said.
“Mexico ́s unconditional INDC commitment will be met regardless of such mechanisms, although these would assist cost-effective implementation. Achieving our conditional goal will require fully functional bilateral, regional and international market mechanisms,” it added.
Mexico was the fourth party, and first developing nation, to submit its INDC to the UN ahead of the Paris talks and in time for the aspirational Mar. 31 deadline.
Meanwhile, Mexico and the United States on Friday said they would establish a high-level, bilateral forum on clean energy and climate change.
The task force will “further deepen policy and regulatory coordination in specific areas including clean electricity, grid modernization, appliance standards, and energy efficiency, as well as promoting more fuel efficient automobile fleets in both countries, global and regional climate modeling, weather forecasting and early alerts system,” the White House said in a statement.
It will be chaired by Secretary Ernest Moniz and Secretary Juan José Guerra Abud, and hold its first meeting this spring.
The US has said its INDC will also be submitted ahead of the deadline.
By Stian Reklev – stian@carbon-pulse.com
