Ecobreves – MEXICO: Requesting More Funds Against Climate Change

By - - and IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

MEXICO CITY, Nov 15 2010 (IPS) - Actions for adapting to and mitigating climate change need at least one percent of Mexico's gross domestic product (GDP), proposed a collective of environmental groups. “We want more investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, public transportation, sustainable forest management and efficient agricultural irrigation,” Sandra Guzmán told Tierramérica. She represents the Mexican Center for Environmental Law, one of the 11 organizations demanding more public funds for fighting climate change.

The groups last week sent their request to the legislative committees for Budget, Environment, Energy, Agriculture and Climate Change.

They are also calling on Congress to earmark the resources intended for climate adaptation and mitigation as a means to improve transparency.

Mexico's environment budget for 2011 is about 3.36 billion dollars — a seven-percent decline from the 2010 budget.