Mexicans show a high level of awareness and concern about climate change and the effects that are already being experienced in the country, according to the survey prepared by Consult Mitofsky, a perception that is not reflected in actions.
In the consultation carried out during November 2021, it is detailed that 7 out of 10 people surveyed expressed the opinion that in Mexico sufficient measures have not been taken to prevent and combat the consequences of climate change.
Meanwhile, 83.8% estimated that this phenomenon affects the country “a lot”, while 66.5% considered that it also directly affects them and their family.
The reduction in the quality and quantity of water; the constant increase in floods; the appearance of hotter days and more heat waves; the decrease in air quality and the increase in the incidence of diseases such as different gastrointestinal diseases, asthma, pneumonia and now Covid-19 are some of the visible consequences of climate change that are already being experienced in Mexico.
The survey house, headed by Roy Campos, detailed that 98.1% of the people interviewed consider that the climate change it is a real phenomenon. A conclusion that for decades has been debated between politicians and scientists in the struggle to implement measures that help prevent the environmental impact that is currently faced worldwide.
In accordance with Consult Mitofsky, 89.1% affirmed that the recent changes in the climate registered worldwide have been caused by human activity, while 9.1% considered that it is due to natural causes. This perception is given in line with the various scientific arguments that for decades have warned about the increase in the temperature of the planet generated by the increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by burning fossil fuels.
Despite the awareness of Mexicans on the subject shown in the Mitofsky survey, it is not reflected in the reality that the country faces in the face of the climate crisis, natural disasters and various effects on the environment that have been registered in Mexico, the Which show the need for more actions from both governments and citizens.
Climate goals for Mexico and the world against time
According to a study by the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC) the warming of the Mexican territory is above the world average. In 1985 the national average temperature was 20.4 degrees Celsius, while in 2020 it was 22.4 degrees.
Faced with this phenomenon that is experienced throughout the planet, the main measure that has been tried to impose worldwide against the threat of climate change It is to limit the temperature increase in this century to below two degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels and to continue efforts to further limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees.
The time to achieve this goal is running out, experts and world leaders warned at the recent International Conference on Climate Change (COP26) held in Glasgow, UK. The Climate Clock created by scientists, educators, artists and activists around the world indicated on Tuesday, November 23, at 9:00 p.m. local time, that only seven years left 240 days and 22 minutes in order to limit the increase in the temperature of the planet, initially proposed in the Paris Agreement.
During the most recent meeting between experts and world leaders to discuss the issue and find new solutions, Mexico was conspicuous by its absence, responding late to certain initiatives and being criticized by non-governmental organizations for coming to the conference with delayed proposals.
Within the framework of COP26, on November 8, the organization The Climate Action Network International, a global network of more than 1,500 social organizations from 130 countries, awarded Mexico second place in the “Fossil of the Day” award, highlighting it as the thirteenth emitter of carbon dioxide among the world’s largest nations and for not being a prominent player in the energy transition.
“The Mexican government is investing more money for the fossil fuel industry, building refineries and delaying public policies designed to reduce carbon emissions,” explained the international network that has given this type of recognition since the COP in 2009.
“This comes from a country where, in 2020 alone, at least 101,000 people were forcibly displaced by natural disasters, according to the annual report of the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center. They then turned up in Glasgow with outdated NDCs from 2015, previously rated as ‘insufficient’ to achieve the 1.5 ° C target and no loss, damage or emissions mitigation data, “the organization said.
In December 2020, Mexico published its Nationally Determined Commitments (NDC) in which it committed to reducing emissions of 22% Greenhouse gases (GHG) and 51% those of black carbon, by 2030, with respect to the trend scenario, that is, the path that the country would follow in releasing this type of pollutant, if it did not do something to reduce it.
These commitments are the same as those presented in 2015, a situation that was and continues to be strongly criticized in the country and in the world, because, in addition to not presenting a more ambitious commitment, it slightly adjusted the emissions baseline upwards.
The limitations and challenges in environmental matters only make it clear that raising awareness and worrying about this issue is only the beginning of a long way to avoid the catastrophe that is coming.
With information from Diego Badillo.
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Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx