INTRODUCTION
In view of the imminent problem of Climate Change, the General Climate Change Law was drafted (2012) in Mexico; as well as its Regulations on the National Emissions Registry, also referred to as RENE (2014). Both statutes are aimed at regulating emissions with a greenhouse effect, as well as activities to mitigate Climate Change. Thus there arises the obligation for some sectors and sub-sectors, not only industrial sectors (which is common practice in other environmental regulations) but to the commercial and services sectors as well (which is new to legislation) to regulate and measure their emissions released into the air. The Regulations determine the establishments and gases subject to reporting and the parameters to be followed for fulfilling this obligation.
In addition, the regulations include new proceedings that must be put in place, processed and recorded by the SEMARNAT, which will permit enforcement of the ordinance.
CERTAIN CONCEPTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO KNOW
Both the General Climate Change Law and its Regulations spell out certain concepts, an understanding of which enables us to interpret the general contents of these statutes. As follows I take the liberty of listing some of those that will be mentioned further on.
Annual Operations Schedule (“COA”): Instrument for reporting and compiling information on
emissions and transfer of air, water, soil and sub-soil pollutants, hazardous materials and wastes used to update the data base of the Pollutant Emissions and Transfer Registry;
Verification Report: Document issued by an Agency that certifies the relevance, integrity, consistency, transparency and accuracy of the information contained in the Emissions Reports that Establishments Subject to Reporting include in the Registry;
download the full article