Abstract

Extreme climate change poses an existential risk. As such, ambitious climate action is required to limit global warming. This article presents an overview of the responses of the European Union and the United States to COVID-19, which seek to address the pandemic’s economic effects while pursuing a green transition. Then, the Mexican energy policy is analyzed. A "Green Deal Recovery Plan" is proposed for Mexico to recover from the economic effects of the global pandemic while increasing sustainability in the energy sector. Further, the article studies the effects that a green transition will have on the workforce. Publications by the International Labour Organization are used to suggest how to conduct a just economic transition and develop an inclusive workforce in Mexico. Finally, this paper concludes that, while there is potential to address the environmental and economic crises in Mexico through a just green transition, there is no political will to do so. A more viable route would be for Mexico to use a recent labor reform to draft collective contracts to train workers and provide them with the skills needed in a greener economy.

This paper will be part of the OGEL Special Issue on "COVID-19 and the Energy Transition". More information here www.ogel.org/news.asp?key=662