Mexico's New Climate-Conscious Leader Faces Deep Energy Challenges

Aug 20, 2024

Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico's first female president and former climate scientist, discusses her vision for reversing the country’s climate policies. She faces significant challenges, including the legacy of her predecessor's oil-focused approach and Mexico's reliance on U.S. natural gas. The conversation highlights her commitment to enhancing renewable energy investment and modernizing infrastructure while navigating political hurdles. Insights on Mexico's energy interdependence with the U.S. provide a deeper understanding of her strategy for a sustainable future.

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Intro

00:00 • 3min

Claudia Sheinbaum: Navigating Mexico's Energy Future

02:49 • 15min

Energy Dynamics and Political Landscape in Mexico

17:20 • 9min

Navigating Trade Challenges in North America's Electric Vehicle Sector

26:39 • 3min

Navigating Energy Interdependency in U.S.-Mexico Relations

29:27 • 4min

Positive Prospects in Energy Security and Climate Change With New Leadership

33:52 • 2min

With her historic victory in Mexico’s presidential election in June, Claudia Sheinbaum will be the country’s first-ever female leader. And because of her background as a climate scientist who contributed to influential UN climate reports, many hope she will reverse Mexico’s drift away from climate leadership.

But it’s not simple. Sheinbaum is a political protégé of outgoing president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. In his six years as president, López Obrador was a popular leader, but failed to advance climate policy. In fact, Mexico is one of just two countries out of the G20 without a net-zero target for carbon emissions.

Even as López Obrador propped up the oil sector, the primary state-owned petroleum company Pemex is deep in debt and seeing four-decade lows in production. And Mexico’s heavy dependence on the U.S. for natural gas is a growing energy security issue for the country.

Sheinbaum has promised to boost clean energy – how effective will she be? Will she be able to address the country’s growing power demands and energy infrastructure challenges? And will she break from her predecessor’s lagging record on climate change?

This week, host Bill Loveless talks with Carlos Pascual about what a Sheinbaum presidency could mean for Mexico’s addressing the country’s energy issues, and encouraging more investment in clean energy in Mexico.

Carlos is senior vice president for Global Energy and International Affairs at S&P Global Commodity Insights, where he leads all business lines in Latin America. He was previously at IHS Markit, where he concentrated on worldwide energy issues and international affairs.

Carlos served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico from 2009 to 2011 and to Ukraine from 2000 to 2003. From 2011 to 2014 he was a special envoy and coordinator for international affairs at the U.S. Department of State, where he established and directed the agency’s Energy Resources Bureau. He was also a former resident fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia SIPA.