Mexico targets methane and more in emerging climate push

Mexico is stepping up efforts on greenhouse gases with its president set to present two initiatives on gas flaring as part a new green agenda to be announced Friday.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) blamed decades of mismanagement in the oil and gas sector for the high levels of methane being released in Mexico.

“We are already working on two programs to reduce atmospheric gas flaring ... part of what I’m going to propose tomorrow at the summit on the environment, on climate change,” AMLO said in a press conference Thursday.

The issue, discussed Tuesday with US climate envoy John Kerry, is one of several being addressed in a 10-point plan to be presented Friday morning.

Other points include electromobility and the expansion of solar energy projects led by state power company CFE along with some form of private participation.

The president’s comments come one day after Mexico’s environmental regulator for the energy sector (ASEA) announced new commitments to tamp down on methane releases in the O&G sector.

ASEA said it signed a memorandum of understanding with NGO Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to share scientific data and consultation on best practices with management of the greenhouse gas.

Last week, the European Space Agency published a study revealing a massive methane leak at the shallow-water KMZ project, the largest crude production asset in Mexico, operated by state company Pemex’s E&P unit PEP.

The meeting Tuesday was also timed to coincide with the release of a study by think tank México Evalúa showing Pemex and CFE at the bottom of scores from more than 90 companies evaluated on ESG and transparency considerations.

One finding suggested CFE contributes 17% of nationwide emissions, for example.

CHANGING ITS TUNE?

The current administration has faced criticism building over years for distancing itself from wind and solar power and stepping up hydrocarbons extraction and refining.

But the government does appear to be turning its attention to addressing the growing pile of negative reports on the environment.

After an initial meeting in late March showed mixed results, cooperation with the US climate delegation seemed more productive with the meeting Tuesday.

Afterwards, Kerry acknowledged López Obrador’s “serious commitment” to addressing climate change.