Mexico participated as a guest country in the G7 Environment Ministers’ Meeting held on Oct. 30-31 in Toronto, Canada. The delegation was led by Alicia Bárcena, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), who called for stronger multilateral cooperation and alignment between climate policies, finance and implementation to achieve global sustainability goals.
The meeting marked the G7’s 50th anniversary, looking to strengthen high-level political dialogue and international cooperation to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the transition toward sustainable and just energy systems. The G7 includes Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
During the high-level sessions, Bárcena presented Mexico’s approach to Environmental Humanism, emphasizing a people- and nature-centered development model promoted under President Sheinbaum’s leadership. “The Plan México promotes inclusive and sustainable development, with food and energy security, technological innovation, and green growth,” she said.
Bárcena noted Mexico’s progress toward a socially just energy transition, as the share of renewable energy is expected to rise from 22% to 38% by 2030. The country also maintains its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35%. She added that biodiversity, water management, and the circular economy are key priorities for achieving sustainable and resilient development.
In the Global Environment and Climate Agenda session, Bárcena called for a paradigm shift from extractivism toward restoration and circular economy models. She stressed the need to recognize the true value of environmental services, such as carbon captured by mangroves and tropical forests, and the importance of nature-based solutions to offset emissions and enhance adaptation to extreme weather events like wildfires and hurricanes.
In the Global Environmental Leadership session, Bárcena underscored the G7’s moral responsibility in advancing sustainable and equitable development. She noted that G7 economies account for 27% of global GDP, 20% of emissions, and 70% of climate finance, calling for greater coherence between policies, financing, and implementation.
“Global leadership is not only about the number of commitments, but about coherence among policies, finances, and actions,” she said, urging stronger collaboration between the G7, G20, and developing nations.
In the session on Global Leadership on Oceans and Coastal Biodiversity, the minister presented Mexico’s marine conservation initiatives, including the development of a National Policy for Marine and Coastal Sustainability, the National Environmental Restoration Program focused on mangroves, reefs, and wetlands, and the National Beach and Coastal Cleanup Campaign.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Bárcena held bilateral discussions with Julie Dabrusin, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Carsten Schneider, Germany’s Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety; and Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation on climate action and sustainable development to align national priorities with international commitments.
Source: https://mexicobusiness.news/
