Civil Society Groups Demand Federal Review of Quintana Roo Environmental Agency

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Civil society organizations in Quintana Roo have formally requested that the federal Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) urgently review the conduct of the state’s Secretariat of Ecology and Environment (SEMA), led by Óscar Rébora.

The complaint alleges repeated irregularities within Environmental Impact Assessment procedures, citing opaque practices that undermine the right to information and access to environmental justice in the state.

A central grievance is the systematic inhibition of public participation. According to the groups, state authorities have ignored more than 100 requests to open public consultations, which are fundamental for project transparency.

“SEMA has also used administrative practices to inhibit citizen participation through excessive formalities, restrictive criteria, and improper or malicious interpretations of state law and its regulations,” the organizations stated.

They further accuse the agency of issuing environmental authorizations on an accelerated or “express” basis, preventing civil society from reviewing and analyzing project impacts before approval.

The complaint also highlights a concerning overreach of federal authority, arguing that the state agency has analyzed and authorized environmental impact statements for projects that, due to their scale or location, legally fall under federal jurisdiction.

“This action by SEMA is legally questionable, as it invades federal competencies, weakens environmental control mechanisms, and sets a worrying precedent for the fragmentation and relaxation of environmental protection standards,” the groups asserted.

Among the complainants are the Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA) and Selvame MX. They demand an end to what they call illegal inspections and call for the restoration of environmental rule of law to ensure the protection of Quintana Roo’s natural heritage is not subject to discretionary administrative procedures or a lack of effective public oversight.