shoum's flickr photostream (creative commons)

Climate change was a hot topic in Mexico today when President Obama met with the the country’s president Felipe Calderón to discuss cooperating to combat border violence, drug cartels and greenhouse gas emissions.  Mexico is extremely vulnerable to the  risks  of climate change, and as the oil-producing country’s reserves begin to dwindle, taking advantage of the land’s potential for renewable energy seems like a wise decision.  And while Mexico is not a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, especially compared to it’s northern neighbor, a green alliance with the United States would provide an excellent example of how all countries rich or poor, big or small, need to collaborate to combat climate change.  The Economist reports that:

According to Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo, a senior Mexican diplomat, Mexico’s stance on climate change “increases our capacity for political dialogue internationally” and helps the country act as a bridge between the developed and developing worlds.

Let’s hope that today’s talks will help set in motion serious action to curb greenhouse gas emissions in both Mexico and the United States, and not simply serve as friendly diplomacy. Only through international cooperation can we find a way to effectively confront this looming global crisis.

takepart by learning what you and Mexico can do to help solve the climate crisis.