Strengthening Mexico’s Climate Law: policy lessons from subnational and international experience

Abstract

Drawing on the outcomes of public participatory processes on climate change, and the reform to a new generation of nine subnational climate laws, as well as international experience, this report, available in English and Spanish, identifies opportunities to strengthen Mexico’s key national climate governance instrument: the General Law on Climate Change. The authors analyse the provisions against key ‘climate governance functions’ that need to be addressed to enable an effective response to the climate crisis. The report also provides insights for other countries that are revising their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and looking to strengthen the domestic legal frameworks and institutions that deliver implementation. Conclusions from this study could be of particular interest to countries with a federal structure and those seeking to strengthen subnational leadership on climate change. The authors find that Mexico’s General Law addresses the climate governance functions to some extent, but there are opportunities to strengthen design elements of the law across the functions. Detailed recommendations for policymakers are provided.