Mexican scientist and environmental activist Claudia Scheinbaum to become president-elect

On June 2, you made history by being elected Mexico’s first woman President. I congratulate you and wish your government success, but above all, I hope that under your leadership, our country will thrive socially, economically and environmentally.

You are a scientist and environmentalist. You were Secretary of Environment for Mexico City and a member of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

The past federal government’s environmental policies have been terrible. The current administration will be remembered for being threatening and for putting environmental agencies through many trials and tribulations, persecuting NGOs and environmentalists, and even trying to jail scientists. The environment has not been a priority for the government. With a few exceptions, the business community has not been on the environment’s side either.

Today, Mexico has become a deadly country for environmental activists: During President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s six-year term, more than 100 environmental activists have been killed.

The dismantling of environmental protection agencies over the past six years has been brutal. Our forests, jungles, rivers, oceans, protected areas, knowledge of biodiversity, environmental justice and the hundreds of brave civil servants dedicated to protecting them are today powerless.

Environmentalists, NGOs and scientists have been harassed by those in power, during those fateful six years when fear of the president’s wrath silenced almost everyone.

Governments didn’t care, perhaps because they didn’t understand the role nature plays in the well-being of their people. They didn’t understand that a healthy environment is essential to building a healthy economy and a just society. They didn’t understand the importance of the environment to public health, food, energy and water security, and the fight against poverty.

With three secretaries obsessed with ideology, the Ministry of the Environment (Semarnat) wandered aimlessly, science was demonized by an indoctrinated and indoctrinated National Council of Science and Technology (Conahcyt) that wanted to jail scientists, Mexico disappeared from the international science and environment agenda, public servants with a track record in civil society were silenced, and officials who once fought for sustainable development lost their compass direction.

But today, Mr. President-elect, you have the greatest historic opportunity in generations to change all that.

The people have given you the mandate to call on all Mexicans to cooperate with your government and use our natural resources responsibly. The future of 130 million of our fellow citizens depends to a large extent on how your government protects our constitutional right to breathe and live in a healthy environment.

If we want all Mexicans to be well, water, the environment and climate change must be national priorities and science must guide government action. A healthy environment is fundamental for fighting poverty.

Mr. President-elect Sheinbaum, many Mexicans look forward to working with you to promote the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of the entire Mexican people. We send this message to you as a scientist, environmentalist and President, in honor of your work and the positions you have taken.

Will Article 4 of the Constitution, which provides for the right of every Mexican citizen to a healthy environment for their development and well-being, and Article 25 of the Constitution, which provides that the State shall ensure that the nation’s development is inclusive and sustainable, become a reality?

Will respect for the environment become a central part of public policy in line with the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals?

Will sufficient resources be allocated to scientific and technological development and the innovation needed to generate solutions to food, water, energy and sanitation challenges, pollution, climate change, migration and biodiversity loss for all Mexicans?

Will at least 35% of the energy used in Mexico come from renewable sources by 2030? And will plans be put in place to adapt to climate change while keeping gender equity and social justice in mind?

Will ecological bylaws and environmental impact assessments be adhered to to provide legal certainty and security for the environment and society?

Do we value biocultural diversity?

Will our protected areas be strengthened and provided with the resources they need?

Will private society be allowed to get involved in environmental protection efforts and promote public-private-society partnerships that promote the sustainable use of natural resources?

Can Mexico regain global leadership in the environment and sustainability?