General Law of Climate Change (Mexico)

This Law, promulgated in 2012, aims to align activities on mitigation and adaptation between the different government entities. The Law establishes following institutions: 
1) the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change, 
2) the Climate Change Council, 
3) the Inter-secretariat Commission for Climate Change. 

The Law defines several GHG mitigation targets that directly incentivise the development of renewable energies. These are: 
1) To generate at least 35% of power with clean technologies by 2024. 
2) To reduce emissions by 30% by 2020, and 50% by 2050 compared to 2000. 

The Law creates a fund to channel financial resources (public, private, national, and international) to support actions to combat climate change. Priority areas include energy efficiency projects, renewable energy development, and elimination or use of fugitive methane emissions and associated gas (Article 82). The Law stipulates that federal entities and municipalities should promote the design and expansion of policies and mitigation actions to reduce emissions (Article 34). 

Relevant to methane, this includes financing and transfer of technology to reduce venting and flaring gas during extraction and distribution processes. The Law stipulates that by 2018, municipalities of over 50000 inhabitants should develop urban infrastructure that does not emit methane, and, where viable, implement technology for electricity generation via gas (Transitory Article III).

The law was amended on November 6th, 2020 and in 2022, with additional wording in accordance with the Paris Agreement and the NDC, as well as further clarification for the implementation of the Mexican Emission Trading System. 

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