Article 4th of the Mexican Constitution establishes that:
Every person has the right to an environment suitable for their development and well-being. (1)
In the Indicators on the right to a healthy environment in Mexico, Vol. 1, we read that “The environment, as an indispensable element for the conservation of the human species, has a collective character and, therefore, is a public good whose enjoyment or damage does not only affect one person, but the community in general. Therefore, its defense and ownership must be recognized individually and collectively.
Therefore, in Mexico a healthy environment does not only imply a right, but the care of the environment is a shared responsibility, which requires the involvement and support of society as a whole.
International Treaties
Since the 20th century, Mexico has ratified international treaties that protect different aspects of the environment, such as the Kyoto Protocol (approved by Mexico in 1998) and the Paris Agreement (in force since 2016). These are binding instruments (3) that commit countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make commitments against climate change and in favor of the environment and sustainable development.
The Paris Agreement also establishes that starting in 2023, every 5 years an evaluation will be made of the intended nationally determined contributions (INDC) for mitigation and adaptation to climate change, so that countries can increase their commitments.(4)
Corporate environmental responsibility
Citizens are increasingly aware of sustainability and demand that companies incorporate responsible environmental criteria to avoid pollution in their communities. Thus, the growing concern about environmental challenges and the need to ensure long-term sustainability have given rise to the concept of “Environmental responsibility”.
This means that the activities of companies, their successes and initiatives, will be monitored even more closely by public opinion.
Corporate environmental responsibility refers to the obligation of organizations to manage their environmental impact.
Companies whose activity may have a negative impact on the environment – such as the freight transport sector – must adopt preventive measures such as the implementation of clean technologies and sustainable practices.
Environmental sustainability represents advantages for business organizations. For example, companies that apply environmental sustainability measures generate brand image and prestige. In addition to complying with increasingly stringent environmental regulations, it also helps to avoid incurring in crimes, sanctions, fines or lawsuits and it is easier to position yourself in a good position for possible subsidies and financial resources.
Electric mobility in freight transport is an optimal solution to mitigate the climate impact, since in addition to improving air and transport quality, it offers great opportunities to SMEs and companies that, in turn, generate employment in this sector.
The actions we take today to protect air quality and the environment are an act of responsibility toward future generations;
it is not just a moral and ethical obligation, but an urgent necessity to ensure a healthier future for us all.
Sources and references.
- https://www.gob.mx/salud/articulos/constitucion-politica-de-los-estados-unidos-mexicano-articulo-4
- Oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos (OHCHR) Indicadores sobre el derecho a un medio ambiente sano en México. https://hchr.org.mx/wp/wp-content/themes/hchr/images/doc_pub/Indicadores_MedioAmbiente.pdf Pag 58.
Binding instruments are those that have legal force because they are adopted and ratified by the Member States (mainly conventions and treaties). They constitute the backbone of international law.
México ante el cambio climático. https://cambioclimatico.gob.mx/acuerdos-internacionales/#:~:text=Protocolo%20de%20Kioto&text=Aunque%20el%20Protocolo%20se%20aprob%C3%B3,29%20de%20abril%20de%202000.
