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Mexico becomes Green

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by GrumpyCabbie, Apr 21, 2012.

  1. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Well this surprised me and in some ways shows up their neighbours to the North (America & Canada)!

    Mexico set to become only second Country in the World, after the UK, to set long term climate targets into law.

    BBC News - Inside Mexico's climate revolution

    As shown by an earlier post of mine where UK average fuel economy is now 38 mpg US (using US cycle), you don't have to compromise or sacrifice much if anything to improve energy efficiency.

    The irony is, of course, that Mexico has traditionally been a younger and poorer cousin of the giant to its north, the United States, which has repeatedly declined to establish legislation of anything like this strength, citing impacts on economic growth.

    "Power for the US is based on the army and energy and oil," Mr Munoz Ledo said.

    Oh so true.
     
  2. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I'll believe it when I see it.

    Establishing laws that projected standards to be met "in the future" sometimes become nothing more than headline grabbing acts that evaporate in the harsh reality of greed and profit.

    Plus my immediate question would be, would those laws apply to foreign companies established in Mexico? There is a lot of outsourced, foreign investment in Mexico, that exists because of cheaper labor and production costs.

    I may be cynical, but I don't expect Mexico to jeopardize that part of their economy by forcing foreign investors to upgrade plants or raise standards.

    Sadly, I guess what I'm saying is I don't expect the right thing to be done, at the cost of the profitable thing being done....

    I hope I'm wrong.
     
  3. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Mexico hopes to trade a decrease in *growth* of carbon emissions (NOT a decrease in carbon emissions) for a piece of the monetary pie the OEDC are talking of setting up. In effect, Mexico is coming early to the trough hoping that other countries will pay for some of its future energy growth.

    The rest is politician BS, and you can bet your last penny that if the aid does not materialize the 'green' politicians will turn brown very quickly.
     
  4. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    Its not a bad step but not a bold leap. Remember Canada joined kyoto, but when it found out it was going to cost them a lot of money they backed out.

    Here Mexico does want to go to high levels of renewables, and it is positioned well for solar and biofuels. The Signing one says that if it gets financial help it will do this in a big way. The US and Canada signing on would be a very different financial arrangement. If the plan starts to cost mexicans too much I expect they will drop out.

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