Environmental Agenda in Quintana Roo Aims to Halt Ecological Deterioration and Strengthen Laws

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Environmental activists and organizations in Quintana Roo are finalizing a comprehensive environmental agenda to present to the State Congress, aiming to reinforce biodiversity protection and advance toward a sustainable model amid accelerated ecosystem deterioration and climate change effects.

The proposal, driven by activists including César Hernández Gálvez, a UN Climate Justice Ambassador, involves collectives like Hooikaika Quintana Roo and the ecofeminist group Semillas Fuertes. Their objective is to influence the state’s legal framework and public environmental policies.

International Climate Advocacy

Activists represented Quintana Roo at the Global Youth Climate Action Summit (LCOY), participated in the Youth Conference (COY), and attended the UN Climate Change Conference (COP). At these events, they pushed for tripling climate financing for developing countries, protecting vulnerable populations, and accelerating the transition to clean energy.

Energy Independence and Infrastructure

The agenda includes moving toward state energy independence, reducing reliance on carbon-intensive power supply from Yucatán, and decreasing recurrent blackouts during heat seasons. The plan prioritizes a cleaner, more resilient energy model.

Stricter Environmental Penalties

The proposal calls for harsher penalties for environmental damage, including destruction of habitats with endangered species. This demand gains urgency amid increasing real estate and tourism pressure in the state.

Monitoring and Conservation Tourism

Collectives propose creating a “biodiversity palette” and establishing a permanent environmental monitoring program. The goal is to strengthen scientific knowledge and promote conservation tourism, a model successfully implemented in other countries that diversifies the economy without harming ecosystems.

Cozumel Risk Atlas

The agenda includes improving waste collection and wastewater treatment. For Cozumel, activists propose developing the first environmental, social, and structural risk atlas to help plan and prevent future impacts.

While acknowledging that legislative processes are typically slow, activists express confidence that the climate emergency and social pressure will accelerate changes.