Mexico President Felipe Calderon this week signed into law ambitious climate targets aimed at drastically cutting the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the share of clean energy in the coming decades.

The law, passed unanimously by the Senate, commits Mexico to cut greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2050. In addition, it stipulates that 35 percent of Mexico’s energy will come from renewable sources by 2024 and that all government agencies will be required to use green energy sources.

The law also calls for the creation of a permit-trading scheme for greenhouse gas emissions. On Twitter, Calderon said the law is part of Mexico’s efforts to become “an international leader in environmental protection.”

The U.S. Energy Information Administration lists Mexico as the world’s 12th-biggest carbon emitter, producing 443.61 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.

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