According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mexico is a country that suffers disproportionately from the consequences of climate change. The same organisation warns that the number of extreme weather events related to climate change has increased, and their frequency and intensity are expected to continue to rise, generating greater adverse socio-economic consequences for the population.

Examples of this are the recent hurricanes Otis and John, which hit the state of Guerrero in the space of just two years. Otis arrived in Acapulco in October 2023 as a category 5 hurricane, causing unprecedented devastation: 52 people died and 32 were reported missing. Its rapid intensification made it the most powerful hurricane ever recorded to happen in the North-Eastern Pacific Basin. Just one year later, in September 2024, Hurricane John struck Acapulco again, leaving an even higher death toll and causing landslides and subsidence that exacerbated the region’s already precarious socio-environmental situation.

Adding to this scenario is a severe water crisis, considered the most serious in the last three years, which has affected large areas of the country since 2022. The combination of extreme droughts and exceptionally high temperatures has increased pressure on water sources in various regions. According to data from the National Centre for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED), the states most affected historically are Durango, Chihuahua and Coahuila, followed by Nuevo León, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Aguascalientes and Guanajuato.

Although these events are not new, their increasing intensity and recurrence highlight the urgent need to invest in environmental solutions focused on both climate change adaptation and mitigation, with the aim not only of reducing future risks and damage, but also of restoring ecosystems, protecting livelihoods and strengthening social and territorial resilience.

Various national and international organisations have agreed that investing in environmental solutions is key to mitigating the impacts of climate change, restoring degraded territories, improving quality of life and, at the same time, generating economic opportunities. These investments are strategic not only for the public sector, but also for the private sector, philanthropy and organised communities seeking to transition to sustainable and equitable development models.

What are the environmental solutions in which to invest?

These types of investments can be classified into two broad categories: mandatory and voluntary. Mandatory investments aim to control, mitigate, offset or correct the environmental impacts generated by production systems in order to avoid penalties, reduce unnecessary costs and comply with current environmental regulations. In many cases, these regulations also cover related areas such as health, industrial safety and energy efficiency.

On the other hand, voluntary investments (also known as part of corporate social responsibility strategies) seek to improve the public image of organisations, strengthen their legitimacy in society and give back to communities for the impacts caused. Although not required by law, they are increasingly valued by consumers, investors and other stakeholders.

In practice, these investments can take many forms and be applied in various sectors. Below are some representative examples:

Graph 1. Examples of environmental solutions in which to invest by sector

At the international level, some multilateral organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are committed to environmental solutions aligned with the principles of climate justice and a territorial approach. Examples include:

• Nature-Based Solutions promoted by the UNDP.
• The IDB’s Green Bonds and Sustainable Climate Funds, aimed at green infrastructure.
• The energy transition with social inclusion and a community approach promoted by UNEP in Latin America.

Investment in environmental solutions and challenges in Mexico

In our country, the current federal government has promoted various investments in environmental solutions, such as river clean-up, with an emphasis on the three most polluted rivers: Lerma-Santiago, Atoyac and Tula, as well as a diagnosis to design a National Circular Economy Strategy. However, among the most notable actions is the Sembrando Vida programme, created during the López Obrador administration. Its main objective is to contribute to the social well-being of farmers by promoting food self-sufficiency, rebuilding the social fabric and ecological restoration through the establishment of productive agroforestry systems on community plots.

During the G20 meeting in 2024, the programme was presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum as a key tool for tackling environmental degradation and an opportunity to attract international investment in environmental solutions: Sembrando Vida promotes actions such as reforestation, soil regeneration, biodiversity protection and water and air quality improvement.

However, various reports and analyses have highlighted limitations that call into question the programme’s long-term viability. One of the main concerns is the lack of integration with long-term conservation strategies and weak ecological monitoring, which could compromise the sustainability of reforestation efforts. These structural deficiencies reflect that, although the programme has positive elements, its effectiveness depends on substantial improvements in its design, implementation and monitoring.

Furthermore, investment in environmental solutions cannot be reduced to reforestation by hectares planted without a systemic approach. These investments must be part of a broader strategy that includes the conservation of existing ecosystems, institutional strengthening of environmental institutions, participatory land use planning, the promotion of agroecological practices, reforestation with native/endemic species, and community environmental education. Without this comprehensive approach, efforts may even lead to adverse effects, such as the introduction of inappropriate species or the displacement of traditional agricultural practices.

The challenge for the Mexican government is not only to promote investment in attractive environmental solutions in international forums, but also to demonstrate that it is possible to transform territories in a fair and sustainable manner, avoiding the ‘mistakes of the past.’ This requires careful planning, genuine community participation, transparency in resource allocation, and constant evaluation of results. Only through consistent commitment and effective implementation will it be possible to move towards sustainable transitions that combat climate change and position Mexico as a serious and proactive player in the global environmental agenda.

Finally, it should be emphasised that it is not only the Mexican government that is investing in this type of solution, but also various international organisations, companies, foundations and citizen networks. Although important steps have been taken to promote these initiatives, it is urgent to ask who decides what is invested, in which territories, with which actors and under what criteria. Without environmental justice and the participation of peoples and communities, there is a risk of reproducing the same inequalities that the climate crisis has exacerbated. In many cases, investments tend to benefit mainly large institutional or business actors, while historically marginalised populations—rural or urban—receive few benefits, without their priorities, knowledge or specific needs being taken into account.

Therefore, in the face of the climate crisis, environmental solutions cannot be thought of solely in financial terms. We need just transitions, guided by the ethics of care, the self-determination of peoples, respect for planetary boundaries and solidarity between generations. This is one of the many possibilities that allow us to imagine and build a more just and sustainable present and future.