The Mexican Government’s “Natural” Gas Strategy and Energy Sovereignty: A Setback for Climate Action and a Just Energy Transition

Mexico and the world are facing a critical moment marked by a global energy crisis.

 In this context, the strategy “Natural Gas: A Strategy to Strengthen Energy Sovereignty”, presented by the Mexican government on April 8, 2026, continues an approach focused on increasing the production of so-called “natural” gas, which is in fact a fossil fuel that contributes to the emissions causing climate change. In particular, it contributes to methane emissions, which have a global warming potential 80 times greater than that of carbon dioxide, which could accelerate the rise in national emissions and exacerbate the adverse effects of global warming. In this regard, this strategy fails to address the structural vulnerability of the energy system or ensure alignment with the country’s climate commitments.

The presented strategy argues that one of the main challenges to energy sovereignty in Mexico is the high dependence on gas imports. In this regard, it notes that around 75% of the gas consumed in the country comes from abroad, mainly from the United States, which creates vulnerability to price fluctuations, geopolitical tensions, and supply risks. Based on this assessment, it proposes as a solution the utilization of national reserves—both conventional and unconventional—as well as the expansion of infrastructure to increase production in the coming years.

The Resilient Mexico Coalition has presented these and other proposals as part of the Plan for Decarbonization and Climate Resilience for Mexico, and we demand that President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration remain consistent with its arguments in favor of addressing climate change. A just energy transition is a state obligation and a pathway to ensuring the genuine social and environmental well-being of the population.

We invite you to read and download our Policy Statement

The Mexican Government’s “Natural” Gas Strategy and Energy Sovereignty_ A Setback for Clim.

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