Although the changes in the methodology for calculating energy generation with renewable sources have already been reflected in official figures, they do not necessarily bring Mexico closer to meeting the commitments of the Paris Agreement.
Said pact, signed by 193 nations and the European Union, seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent global temperatures from rising by more than two degrees Celsius in this century.
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Although Mexico proposed raising the generation of clean energy —to 35% in 2024 and 43% in 2030— to help achieve its goals, it will not advance if it is not accompanied by other measures, mentioned Carlos Flores, a specialist in the energy sector.
It is not only generating more clean energy, by itself that does not help to reduce greenhouse gases, it is the replacement of polluting energies with renewables; if there is no replacement, there is no reduction in emissions
commented in interview.
Commitment
Mexico committed in the agreement to reduce its black carbon emissions by 51% and greenhouse gas emissions by 22% by 2030, bringing them to 75 million and 762 million tons, respectively, of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent.
Last year, within the framework of COP 21, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard raised the goal to 35% in this last item.
According to data from the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC), the country emitted 683 million tons of CO₂ equivalent in 2015, mainly linked to the transport sector, which contributed 36% of the total.
For 2019, greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 736.6 million tons of CO₂ and electric power generation activities became the main contributor with 22.6% of the total.
In addition to actions in the energy sector, it involves measures in sectors such as urban, transportation, forestry, and agriculture; such as the use of ultra-low sulfur fuels, improving forest management or recovering methane in landfills.
‘More’ clean energy
According to the 2023-2037 National Electric System Development Program (Prodesen), Mexico generated 31.2% of electricity from renewable sources, an increase of 1.7 percentage points compared to 29.5% the previous year.
However, said increase is due to the fact that the calculations considered the methodological modifications of the agreement A/018/2023 of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) approved on May 26, which allow accounting for part of the energy generated in combined cycle plants and cogeneration as clean.
If the calculations had not been updated, clean electricity generation would have fallen to 28.7%, further away from the 35% goal set in the Paris Agreement and the General Law on Climate Change.
Carlos Flores pointed out that the change in the methodology helps the discourse that the generation of clean energy in the country is increasing, but not the fulfillment of the objectives.
“It also helps as an economic incentive, through the Clean Energy Certificates (CEL) for the construction of new combined cycle plants and given that in Mexico the large energy companies seek to focus on renewables such as solar and wind, this incentive is aimed at the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE)”, he stated.
2023-06-01 11:06:46
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