Mexican Industry Takes Voluntary Action against Climate Change - Mexican Government Gives Public Recognition. (http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MTgyMjI)

Mexico City, 22 February 2006 - Mexico’s environment ministry (SEMARNAT) recognized fifteen major companies today for publicly reporting their greenhouse gas emissions through a public-private initiative known as the Mexico Voluntary Accounting and Reporting Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Program.

“Mexico is committed to fight global warming,” said Jose Luis Luege Tamargo, Secretary of Environment. “Collaborating with industry is a key part of our strategy.”

The Mexico GHG Program, the first of its kind in a developing country, is a voluntary program established in 2004 through an agreement between the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Mexico-based CESPEDES is also involved as a program administrator.

The companies being recognized are: Altos Hornos de Mexico, Grupo Cementos Chihuahua, Cooperativa La Cruz Azul, CEMEX, Cementos Portland Moctezuma, Ford de México, Grupo Modelo, Grupo Porcícola Mexicano, Holcim Apasco, Mittal Steel Lázaro Cárdenas, NHUMO, PEMEX, SICARTSA/Villacero, Siderúrgica Tultitlán, and Sumitomo Corporativo de México.

The Mexico GHG Program provides technical tools and training to develop inventories of corporate GHG emissions based on the accounting and reporting principles of the WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Companies that participate in the program can identify opportunities to improve their energy efficiency and develop effective strategies to participate in carbon markets and reduce GHG emissions.

Twenty-seven companies in Mexico are currently participating in the program, including those from the most-energy intensive sectors. The entire cement and petroleum sector companies are engaged, as well as major representatives of the iron and steel sector. Besides the companies being recognized, twelve more are currently in the process of developing GHG inventories.

“Mexico has recognized the significant business opportunities that are available from strategic management of GHG emissions,” said WRI president Jonathan Lash. “This is important leadership by the Mexican government and industry leaders that will produce both environmental and business benefits.”

On August 25, 2004, Mexico became the first country to adopt the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, published three years earlier by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

“We’re proud to be part of this initiative,” said Bjorn Stigson, president of WBCSD. “We commend the Mexican companies who are being recognized today for setting an example and getting ahead of the curve.”

The activities of the Mexico GHG Program are supported by SEMARNAT, WRI, WBCSD, the US Agency for International Development, and the Global Opportunities Fund of the British Embassy in Mexico. For further information, visit the Mexico GHG Program at http://www.geimexico.org and the GHG Protocol at http://www.ghgprotocol.org.

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The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Secretaría del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales) (www.semarnat.gob.mx) is a government agency whose main purpose is to create a State environmental protection policy reversing the trends of ecological deterioration and establishing the basis for sustainable development in the country.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (http://www.wbcsd.org) is a coalition of 180 international companies united by a shared commitment to sustainable development via the three pillars of economic growth, ecological balance and social progress.

The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org) is an independent, non-partisan and nonprofit organization with a staff of more than 100 scientists, economists, policy experts, business analysts, statistical analysts, mapmakers, and communicators developing and promoting policies that will help protect the Earth and improve people’s lives.

The Commission of the Private Sector for Sustainable Development-Mexico (CESPEDES) is part of the Mexican Business Coordinating Council (CCE), whose main purpose is to drive the businesses sector toward sustainable development. CESPEDES is an active member of the regional network of the WBCSD.

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CONTACTS:

- Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources Leticia Ozawa, +52 55 5490 0900 x12087, leticia.ozawa@semarnat.gob.mx

- World Resources Institute Nate Kommers, +1 202-729-7684, nkommers@wri.org

- World Business Council for Sustainable Development Adam Kirkman +41 22 839 31 56, Kirkman@wbcsd.org

- Center of Private Sector Studies for Sustainable Development Rosa Ma. Jiménez, +52 55 5229 1140, rjimenez@cce.org.mx

- WBCSD Media Relations: Josephine Chennell +41 22 839 3189, chennell@wbcsd.org