As Mexico accelerates the establishment of protected natural areas, charges of greenwashing are rampant in the latter stages of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency. Opponents contend that this action is an attempt to counterbalance the administration’s pro-petroleum stance at a critical juncture in the fight against climate change. Notably, the president’s first five years were characterized by legislation targeting producers of renewable energy, focusing on a large oil refinery, and support for the state-owned oil company.
Nature Protection in the Face of Budget Cuts
Environmentalists warn of simultaneous budget cuts to environmental protection even as the government brags about adding an extensive number of new protected areas. The environmental department’s funding is drastically reduced by $510 million, or 11%, in the approved 2024 budget. This cut highlights the administration’s continued practice of reducing environmental spending. Over the course of President López Obrador’s six-year term, the amount allotted for environmental projects has decreased by 35 per cent. This is a significant divergence from the financial pledges made by his predecessor with regard to environmental preservation and sustainability.
Accelerated Protected Area Expansion
In spite of financial constraints, the government is proud to have established a record number of protected natural areas in comparison to previous administrations. However, critics claim that this accomplishment has been undermined by inadequate funding. In the last three months, sixteen new areas have been declared, and ten more are planned before the administration’s term ends. Activists claim that this rapid expansion is just a front and that the administration’s claims regarding the environment are empty. Concerns grow as the disparity between celebratory announcements and apparent financial backing for these initiatives becomes clearer.
Funding Dynamics: The Struggle for Resources at CONANP
Since 2016, Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), which is in charge of managing the country’s protected areas, has struggled with ongoing budget cuts. Although the budget for the next year indicates a slight increase in line with inflation, a closer look reveals that the additional funds are primarily used for salaries. As a result, the crucial issue of financing for the preservation of these regions is still not sufficiently handled. The amount of funding per hectare has decreased dramatically from 26.5 pesos in 2016 to a meager 10.6 pesos, despite a notable increase in the number of assigned protected areas. This has raised concerns regarding CONANP’s capacity to fulfill its mandated duties.
Contested Allocations by the Government
The overall budget of the federal government is projected to rise by 4.3% in the next year. On the other hand, environmentalists are disappointed that Acapulco, which was recently devastated by Hurricane Otis, is not receiving any special funding for recovery efforts. Additionally, a fund for mitigating and adapting to climate change is included in the environmental budget, but the military receives more than half of it. The contentious Maya Train project, which has drawn criticism for conflicting environmental preservation objectives, and the oversight of rail transportation in the Southeast are included in this allocation.
The Mexican Environment Department did not elaborate on how it intends to protect the recently designated areas with drastically lower funding per hectare in response to the budget cuts. Concerns mounting, the House of Deputies committee on environmental funding points out that most of the cuts come from funding for drinking water—a decision that has been referred to as “striking” in the midst of a drought that has impacted more than three-quarters of the nation and a water crisis in Mexico City. The budget’s reflection of the López Obrador administration’s environmental policies continues to call into question their commitment to conservation in the face of economic constraints.
