Mexico

The GMI Secretariat prepared this profile using publicly available information. If you are an official representative and wish to submit edits or additions, please contact the Secretariat at secretariat@globalmethane.org.

Mexico is a founding member of the Global Methane Initiative (GMI), launched in 2004, and has served in leadership roles on the Steering Committee and sector-specific Subcommittees. Mexico currently participates on the Biogas Subcommittee.

Mexico has an extensive framework of climate policies and strategies that support national climate change adaptation goals and reduce methane emissions across sectors. The country’s climate policies are focused on the oil and gas sector and include implementation of guidelines to address methane and promote clean and renewable energy. Mexico is an active participant in international collaboration efforts to achieve global emissions reduction targets and deliver climate resiliency.

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Methane Emissions Summary

Methane is the second most predominant greenhouse gas (GHG) in Mexico and contributed 20% of the total emissions in 2015. The primary sources of methane emissions are in the energy sector, agriculture sector, and waste sector. 

GHG Emissions by Gas, 2015
GHG Emissions by Gas, 2015

Methane Emissions by Key Sources, 2015
Methane Emissions by Key Sources, 2015

Source: Source: MEXICO, Sixth National Communication and Second Biennial Update Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, November 2018: https://unfccc.int/documents/185500

Methane Commitments and Plans

Methane mitigation efforts in Mexico are guided by national and international commitments and plans. Mexico also engages in partnerships dedicated to addressing methane. 

National

Mexico has a national plan and long term multi-sectoral strategies to achieve methane emissions reductions. 

International

Mexico is an active participant in international efforts to address methane emissions and reach global climate targets.  

  • Mexico joined the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) in 2021 when it was launched at the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP26), agreeing to take voluntary actions to contribute to a collective effort to reduce global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
  • Mexico is a founding member of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and has actively supported activities to reduce methane and other short-lived climate pollutants since 2012.
  • In 2018, Mexico City became a member of BreatheLife, committing to increasing renewable power, reducing methane emissions from landfills and wastewater treatment plants, and establishing air quality and emissions monitoring systems.

Methane Actions

The following highlights a sampling of actions taken by Mexico to address methane, organized by GMI sector.  

Oil & Gas Sector

  • Mexico, in cooperation with the U.S., committed to develop an implementation plan that will eliminate flaring and venting from offshore oil and gas operations. (2022)
  • Mexico launched ground breaking Methane Guidelines to prevent and control methane emissions from the hydrocarbon sector, which included requirements on methane emission control protocols in facilities, and identification of methane emission sources. (2020)
  • Mexico established guidelines to enforce methane emissions controls on natural gas activities in the country, including required inspection and maintenance to help detect gas leaks. (2018)

Cross Sector

  • The General Law on Climate Change, most recently updated in 2023, establishes a legal obligation to address short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) in Mexico with an emphasis on adaptation measures. The law addresses methane emissions from the waste treatment, coal mining activities, and methane capture activities. (2023)