"Mexico is committed to fight global warming," said Secretary of Environment Jose Luis Luege Tamargo. "Collaborating with industry is a key part of our strategy."

The Mexico GHG Program, the first of its kind in a developing country, is a voluntary program established in 2004 through an agreement between the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Mexico-based CESPEDES is also involved as a program administrator.

The companies being recognized are: Altos Hornos de Mexico, Grupo Cementos Chihuahua, Cooperativa La Cruz Azul, CEMEX, Cementos Portland Moctezuma, Ford de México, Grupo Modelo, Grupo Porcícola Mexicano, Holcim Apasco, Mittal Steel Lázaro Cárdenas, NHUMO, PEMEX, SICARTSA/Villacero, Siderúrgica Tultitlán, and Sumitomo Corporativo de México. The GHG emissions reported by this group represent roughly 25 percent of total national emissions generated by stationary combustion (heat and electricity generation) and industrial processes.

The Mexico GHG Program provides technical tools and training to develop inventories of corporate GHG emissions based on the accounting and reporting principles of the WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Companies that participate in the program can identify opportunities to improve their energy efficiency and develop effective strategies to participate in carbon markets and reduce GHG emissions.

Twenty-seven companies in Mexico are currently participating in the program, including those from the most-energy intensive sectors. The entire cement and petroleum sectors are engaged, as well as major representatives of the iron and steel sector. Besides the companies being recognized, twelve more are currently in the process of developing GHG inventories.

“Mexico has recognized the significant business opportunities that are available from strategic management of GHG emissions,” said WRI president Jonathan Lash. “This is important leadership by the Mexican government and industry leaders that will produce both environmental and business benefits.”

On August 25, 2004, Mexico became the first country to adopt the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, published three years earlier by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).