Mexico
Greenpeace Mexico v. Ministry of Energy and Others (on the National Electric System policies)
Jurisdiction: First Circuit Collegiate Tribunal, District Court in Administrative Matters
Principle law(s): General Law on Climate Change,Decree issuing the Electricity Industry Law, the Geothermal Energy Law and amending the Law on National Waters
Side A: Greenpeace Mexico (Ngo)
Side B: Ministry of Energy of Mexico (Government)
Core objectives: Whether National Electric System policies are unconstitutional for discriminating against renewables.
Summary
On May 25, 2020, Greenpeace Mexico filed a lawsuit against the Mexican government contesting the constitutionality of two electricity sector policies that would limit renewables. Greenpeace Mexico asked the Administrative Court to declare the policies unconstitutional for violating the rights to a healthy environment and sustainable development and for obstructing Mexico's compliance with its international commitments to tackle climate change. The two policies challenged were the National Centre of Energy Control (CENACE) Agreement "to ensure the efficiency, quality, reliability, continuity and safety of the National Electric System, on the occasion of the COVID-19 epidemic" and the Ministry of Energy policy of "Reliability, Security, Continuity and Quality in the National Electrical System." The former ordered the suspension of certain wind and photovoltaic power plants in operation or on the approval stage prior to commercial operation. The latter supported the CENACE Agreement's suspension of renewable energy power plant operation and the promotion of oil-based power generation. Greenpeace filed the case in the Mexico City's Second District Administrative Court Specialized in Economic Competition, Broadcasting, and Telecommunications.Case documents
Related laws and policies
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General Law on Climate Change
The approval of the GLCC gives certainty and continuity to climate policy in Mexico and sets the country on a path to a low carbon economy. It establishes the basis for the creation of institutions, legal frameworks and financing to move towards a low carbon economy. As a General Law, it specifie...
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Decree issuing the Electricity Industry Law, the Geothermal Energy Law and amending the Law on National Waters
The present decree approves the Electricity Industry Law (LIE) and the Geothermal Energy Law. The LIE regulates part of the changes arising from the Constitutional Reform in energy matters of 2013. It modifies the regime of the electricity sector to move to a new model based on the free competit...