VOA常速英语:U.S. And Mexico Partner Against Climate Change

U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, Mexico Mission Director, Thomas R. Delaney, joined Mr. Graco Ramirez, the Governor of Morelos State, in Mexico City on September 13th, to sign a Letter of Intention to cooperate between USAID and the state government.

USAID will provide technical assistance through the Mexico Low Emissions Development Program, or MLED, to support the analysis and implementation of strategies to foster low emissions development policies at the state. This initiative supports the state’s larger action plan to counter climate change and increase the use of renewable energy.

Director Delaney emphasized USAID’s commitment to the new partnership, underlining the important role that states play in reinforcing activities of federal entities to implement comprehensive emissions reduction: “Experts from all levels agree that an effective national policy on climate change should ensure harmonization between local, state and national levels. We also recognize this need, and our MLED Program includes specific tasks focused on capacity building and mitigation programs of climate change at the state level.”

Governor Ramírez said that sustainability is a top priority for his government and, based on this agreement with USAID, programs aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the State’s Renewable Energy Plan, will be designed and implemented. “In this way, the State of Morelos will implement actions aimed at mitigating the climate change impacts affecting Mexico and other parts of the world.”

Working with Morelos offers additional advantages and the possibility of replication of lessons learned in other states. Morelos’ renewable energy and climate change mitigation centers, along with its membership in the Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico, make it an ideal partner for working with Mexico City and the State of Mexico on environmental issues in the valley.

USAID has worked for over 20 years in a wide range of environmental issues in Mexico, with actions including the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources, watersheds and energy, as well as addressing problems of climate change and generating sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities.

The United States is proud to work with its partner, Mexico to benefit our two peoples, the Western Hemisphere, and the world.