Mexico City, Mexico, April 1, 2022 – Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry visited Mexico City yesterday to resume his dialogue with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and senior Mexican officials about the steps our governments can undertake to speed up our transition to a clean energy future. President López Obrador met at length with Secretary Kerry and Ambassador Salazar to discuss energy and climate issues. Secretary Kerry and Ambassador Salazar discussed core principles that should guide policy in the energy sector, including rapidly accelerating renewable energy, fostering North American economic integration, and compliance with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). President López Obrador agreed that these were important principles. Following this bilateral exchange, President López Obrador hosted a lunch and extended discussion with a number of Mexican cabinet secretaries and U.S. businesses to discuss opportunities for Mexico to transition to a clean energy economy. This is Secretary Kerry’s third trip to Mexico in five months, underscoring the importance the U.S. government places on this bilateral relationship in the global fight to avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis.
Secretary Kerry emphasized the opportunity the two countries have to show leadership in combatting the global climate crisis by stepping up efforts. These commitments include taking decisive action to implement policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across sectors and significantly accelerating renewable energy deployment. Secretary Kerry reaffirmed that U.S.-led renewable energy projects in Mexico exemplify the swift, significant deployment of renewable energy that can provide thousands of jobs in Mexico, cut energy costs for the Mexican people, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The existing projects and contracts many U.S. renewable energy providers have with the Mexican government represent a strong foundation for the development of North America’s clean-energy future. Full implementation and adherence to our trade agreements is necessary to advance our shared interests and regional competitiveness. During his visit, Secretary Kerry and Ambassador Salazar reiterated the significant concerns the United States has raised about the changes to Mexico’s energy policy – both the proposed constitutional amendment and the changes to the Electric Power Industry Law – including potentially violating core USMCA obligations, placing billions of dollars of potential investment in Mexico at risk, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are at a pivotal moment. We must accelerate the fight against the climate crisis, and to do so, we must work together to seize the economic opportunity presented by clean energy development,” said Secretary Kerry. Upon the conclusion of yesterday’s meetings, Ambassador Salazar echoed these sentiments, stating “The United States and Mexico have an extraordinary opportunity to create an economic powerhouse in North America, leading the world in clean energy. Mexico is our most important partner and it is endowed with extraordinary renewable energy potential that must be tapped.”
