President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met for more than three hours with John KerryUnited States special envoy for climate, to discuss the electrical reform driven by the fourth transformation, as well as on climate change.
At the end of the private meeting, the federal president commented on social networks that the conversation was carried out with “frankness and respect.”
“I met with John KerryUnited States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and as always we speak frankly and respectfully,” López Obrador wrote in his Twitter account. Twitter.
After the meeting, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told some media stationed outside the National Palace that it was agreed to create a working group to promote the clean energies for the next three years.
John Kerry arrived at the National Palace at 12:20 p.m., after offering a press conference accompanied by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE).
Before his talk with López Obrador, the US official reiterated the United States’ interest in working with Mexico to promote renewable energy, amid concerns in Washington that planned changes in the local electricity sector will hinder investments in clean technologies.
Kerry assured that the United States government is willing to be “as helpful as we can” to encourage Mexico to increase the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy, while companies around the world intensify efforts to meet climate goals.
“Mexico can play a vital and extraordinary role in our efforts to combat the climate crisis,” the official said.
The Congress of the Union discusses a constitutional reform proposed by López Obrador to give priority to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), against private actors, generating criticism from various sectors that ensure that the change would undermine investment in wind and solar energy.
Kerry’s remarks come after US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm expressed Washington’s concern that the initiative “would not create a level playing field” for US firms that want to invest in renewable energy in Mexico.
The CFE uses fossil fuels to generate much of its energy.
Kerry assured that the government of President Joe Biden was willing to offer financing and technological help to accelerate Mexico’s efforts and that he would provide more details on Wednesday when he meets with López Obrador and Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.
López Obrador, who argues that past corrupt governments modified the energy market in favor of private capital, again defended his proposal on Wednesday, which aims to reverse the deep opening of the sector carried out between 2013 and 2014.
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