In a first for a developing country, fifteen major Mexican companies have voluntarily reported their greenhouse gas emissions publicly. Mexico has a public-private initiative known as the Mexico Voluntary Accounting and Reporting Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Program.
The Mexico GHG Program is a voluntary program established in 2004 through an agreement between the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Mexico-based CESPEDES is also involved as a program administrator.
Mexico’s environment ministry (SEMARNAT) recognized the following companies: Altos Hornos de Mexico, Grupo Cementos Chihuahua, Cooperativa La Cruz Azul, CEMEX, Cementos Portland Moctezuma, Ford de Mxico, Grupo Modelo, Grupo Porccola Mexicano, Holcim Apasco, Mittal Steel Lzaro Crdenas, NHUMO, PEMEX, SICARTSA/Villacero, Siderrgica Tultitln, and Sumitomo Corporativo de Mxico.
The Mexico GHG Program provides technical tools and training to develop inventories of corporate GHG emissions based on the accounting and reporting principles of the WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Companies that participate in the program can identify opportunities to improve their energy efficiency and develop effective strategies to participate in carbon markets and reduce GHG emissions.
Twenty-seven companies in Mexico are currently participating in the program, including those from the most-energy intensive sectors. The entire cement and petroleum sector companies are engaged, as well as major representatives of the iron and steel sector. Besides the companies being recognized, twelve more are currently in the process of developing GHG inventories.
“Mexico has recognized the significant business opportunities that are available from strategic management of GHG emissions,” said WRI president Jonathan Lash. “This is important leadership by the Mexican government and industry leaders that will produce both environmental and business benefits.”
On August 25, 2004, Mexico became the first country to adopt the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, published three years earlier by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
The activities of the Mexico GHG Program are supported by SEMARNAT, WRI, WBCSD, the US Agency for International Development, and the Global Opportunities Fund of the British Embassy in Mexico. For further information, visit the Mexico GHG Program at www.geimexico.org and the GHG Protocol at www.ghgprotocol.org.