During the first workshop convened on the “Roadmap for the Decarbonization of the Building Sector” in Mexico City on September 26, 2024, construction sector leaders and organizations like WRI México and Sustainability for Mexico (SUMe) highlighted the urgent need to implement a National Buildings Decarbonization Roadmap. This effort aims to transform a sector responsible for 40% of CO2 emissions from energy consumption.
Adriana Lobo, WRI’s Global Presence and Local Action Director, stated that “building decarbonization is not just an option, but an imperative to face the climate crisis.” Lobo emphasized that this transition will not only help reduce emissions, but also improve indoor air quality, reduce energy poverty, and create new green job opportunities. The transformation would also boost the country’s economic competitiveness.
Energy Efficiency: A Key to Economic Growth and Sustainability
Energy efficiency was positioned as one of the fundamental pillars in this decarbonization process. According to experts, the implementation of clean technologies related to heating, ventilation and cooling could reduce energy consumption in buildings by up to 35%. This would create additional green jobs by training workers on the benefits of deployment of such clean technologies and strengthen the competitiveness of the construction industry. Fairuz Loutfi, Manager of Circular Economy and Energy Efficiency at WRI México, highlighted significant progress with programs like the Efficient Buildings Challenge, which has already achieved up to a 10% reduction in energy consumption in participating buildings across the country.
Moreover, the Energy Efficiency Codes and Standards Roadmap, presented by SENER, aims to reduce the sector’s energy consumption by 35% over the coming years through the adoption of advanced standards across the country.
Regulation and Reliable Data: Pillars for the Energy Transition
During the workshop, participants underscored the need to strengthen the regulatory framework to promote the adoption of energy efficiency standards throughout Mexico. Organizations called on the incoming government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum and Secretary of Energy Luz Elena González, to ensure these standards become mandatory in the country’s building codes. Participants also advocated for the creation of fiscal incentives to drive the adoption of clean technologies and the implementation of a reliable data platform to enable informed decision-making in both the public and private sectors.
Dignified Housing and Nearshoring: Key Opportunities for the New Government
The new government’s proposal to fulfil its constitutional guarantee by building one million “dignified and decent” homes to lift millions of Mexicans out of substandard and overcrowded housing offers a unique opportunity to integrate energy-efficient technologies, which will reduce operational costs for families and improve their quality of life. This effort is crucial for a sector that represents 18% of national electricity consumption. Additionally, the push for nearshoring can consolidate sustainable industrial development hubs, enhancing Mexico’s competitiveness in the global context.
Collaboration Is Critical for Achieving a Net-zero Environment
Verónica Ibarra Ruelas, CEO of SUMe, concluded the event by thanking the participation of leaders from the public, private, academic, and civil society sectors. “Collaboration among all these actors will be essential to achieving a net-zero built environment and positioning Mexico as a leader in sustainable construction,” she affirmed.
Key participants in the workshop included:
- Private sector: Ramón Del Valle (Siemens), Edgar Runnebaum (Siemens Real Estate), Alicia Berenice Carrillo Famoso (Holcim), Darío Ibargüengoitia (IBALCA), Luis Alberto Vega (Saint Gobain), Jesús Galván (CBRE).
- Public sector and international organizations: Verónica Ibarra (SUMe), Adriana Lobo (WRI), Fairuz Loutfi (WRI Mexico), Angélica Vesga (WRI Mexico), Liliana Campos (GIZ), and Octavio Molina, leader of the All in for a Net Zero Built Environment project from SUMe.
- Academia and civil society: Gerardo Gutiérrez Smith (CSMX), José Luis Gutiérrez Brezmes (Iberoamerican University).
The “Roadmap for the Decarbonization of the Building Sector” workshop was a key milestone for the All in for a Net Zero Built Environment project and brought together high-level leaders from various sectors to discuss and define strategies that will drive the decarbonization of Mexico’s buildings and construction sector. These actions are essential to combating the climate crisis and positioning Mexico as a global leader in sustainability.
