Cookie Control

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer.

Some cookies on this site are essential, and the site won't work as expected without them. These cookies are set when you submit a form, login or interact with the site by doing something that goes beyond clicking on simple links.

We also use some non-essential cookies to anonymously track visitors or enhance your experience of the site. If you're not happy with this, we won't set these cookies but some nice features of the site may be unavailable.

By using our site you accept the terms of our Privacy Policy.

(One cookie will be set to store your preference)
(Ticking this sets a cookie to hide this popup if you then hit close. This will not store any personal information)

Can Mexico's Sheinbaum, Climate Scientist, Shake Lopez Obrador's Oil Legacy?

"MEXICO CITY - Mexico's President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, an accomplished climate scientist, could struggle to fulfill her environmental pledges after she sailed to victory, in part, on the popularity of a predecessor who doubled down on fossil fuels.

Sheinbaum, elected as Mexico's first woman president by a sweeping margin Sunday, inherits a country grappling daily with climate change and environmental challenges: pervasive drought, a water crisis in the sprawling capital of Mexico City, and rampant deforestation.

The 61-year-old leftist leader, who was part of a United Nations panel of climate scientists that received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, has spoken about her belief in an academic and scientific approach to politics. She campaigned on a pledge to significantly boost renewable energy in the oil-producing country to as much as 50% by the end of her term in 2030.

But despite her best intentions to improve Mexico's green record, Sheinbaum's mentor, the highly popular outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, spent billions propping up Mexico's fossil fuel-dependent state energy giants, oil firm Pemex and power utility CFE."

Cassandra Garrison reports for Reuters June 4, 2024.

Source: Reuters, 06/05/2024