Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Environment; Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; and Juan Elvira Quesado, the Mexican Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources;  have signed a commitment on sustainable development and climate change as part of a partnership between Mexico and the UK.

As part of  a state visit by the Mexican President to the UK, they discussed progress under the previous sustainable development partnership programme, which began in 2006, and outlined future priorities under the new UK-Mexico programme which will last until 2010.

The Ministers agreed there had been good progress on climate change and reducing emissions, sustainable consumption and production, and natural resource management. But they agreed efforts to forge a sustainable future and avoid damaging climate change must be stepped up. 

One successful project has been the reduction of emissions from transport in Mexico City. This has led to the development of a 'zero emissions corridor' along one of Mexico's busiest roads. The UK has also shared best practice and helped Mexico carry out its equivalent of the Stern report to look at the economic impact of climate change.

Mexico will host World Environment Day in June and has committed to a reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2050. It hopes to build on its successful partnership with the UK. Priorities for the programme include feeding sustainable objectives into broader UK and Mexican policy-making. There are currently 13 sustainable development projects already running as a result of the 2006 programme.

Minister Quesado said: 'Cooperation with the UK has really helped to push Mexico's sustainable development and climate change policy forward. We will continue strengthening this cooperation for the benefit of both parties and will transfer our experience to other regions.'

Projects developed between the UK and Mexico include:
• Developing a Mexican standard on Environmental Requirements and Specifications for the selection of the site, design, building and operation of tourism developments

• A project to support the closure of municipal dumps in the state of Nuevo Leon.  To date 14 dumps out of the 22 identified have been closed.  The impact has reduced methane emissions by 25,000 tonnes of carbon equivalent, which will increase to 34,000 tonnes of carbon equivalent when all 22 are closed 

• Improved resource efficiency through the Industrial Symbiosis Project, which has already diverted 1,260 tons of industrial waste from landfill per year, removed 21,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, given economic benefits of over £50,000 and created 39 new jobs

• The UK and Mexico have collaborated on a sustainable chemical management regime to improve industrial decision making and regulation  

• The UK has helped Mexico's National Forestry Commission to develop a regional conservation and restoration plan for mangroves, which will preserve and restore natural habitats for biodiversity and protect the livelihoods of those who depend on them