Mexico and U.S. Sign Technical Collaboration Agreement on Sustainability and Climate Change Through 2016

MEXICO CITY - The following is being released today by Marca Pais – Imagen de Mexico: Mexico and the United States of America recently signed a Technical Collaboration Agreement on Sustainability and Climate Change. Through this Agreement, both nations will implement the Binational Cooperation Program of Climate Change Towards 2016 which represents an investment of nearly US$70 million to be utilized in the next five years. The Program will be led by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Mexican Secretary of Environment and National Resources (Semarnat). Civilian organizations and the private sector will also be collaborating in the Program. The investment of US$70 million will be distributed among two programs: USAID's Mexico Low-Emissions Development Program (MLED): To support Mexican efforts to develop and implement a Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) and strengthen systems for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of emissions across all emitting sectors of the economy. MLED will also promote the widespread adoption of clean energy technologies and best practices through the development of energy policies, financing mechanisms, and institutional and technical capacity in Mexico. The United Nations' REDD+ Program: An effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. Beyond deforestation and forest degradation, the REDD+ Program also includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. Mexico and the U.S. have a long history in collaborating to best manage natural resources, protect biodiversity, address climate change issues, and offer economic opportunities that are sustainable for communities.

Melvin Wylie