Policy paper

UK – Mexico memorandum of understanding

Published 22 June 2026

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Government of the United Mexican States and The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on climate, energy and nature collaboration.

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The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Government of the United Mexican States (“Mexico”) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“UK”), (hereinafter referred to individually as “Participant” and collectively as the “Participants”) wish to further promote collaboration and cooperation in respect to climate, energy and nature.

Considering:

The shared commitment of the Participants to accelerate the global transition towards clean energy, nature conservation and restoration, and climate resilience.

The mutual interest in fostering innovation and technological cooperation to enable sustainable economic growth and low-carbon development, to advance towards a resilient economy.

The importance of strengthening bilateral collaboration to promote clean power, climate action, protect and restore biodiversity, and ensure the rational and sustainable management of natural resources.

Recognising:

That scientific research, knowledge exchange, and technological innovation are essential to reducing environmental degradation and achieving long-term climate objectives.

The benefits of joint efforts to expand exchanges in low-carbon technologies, enhance energy security, and deliver innovative solutions across sectors.

That cooperation in these areas contributes to economic and social well-being, while supporting global efforts to address climate change and protect and restore ecosystems.

The Participants have reached the following understanding:

Paragraph 1: Objective/Purpose

The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to establish collaboration in the areas of climate, energy and nature, building upon the international leadership demonstrated by both participants. This MoU will serve as a framework for International Climate Finance (ICF) cooperation, science and innovation collaboration, and clean growth exchanges. It aims to leverage the strengths of both participants to achieve significant progress in climate action and sustainable development.

Paragraph 2: Planned Areas of Cooperation

Subject to the laws, rules, regulations and national policies governing the subject matter that apply in each Participant’s territory, the Participants will endeavour to cooperate in respect of:

1. Increased Climate Ambition

a. Support implementation of Mexico’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) and its target to achieve Net Zero by mid-century, through its five components on mitigation, adaptation, loss and damages, means of implementation, and enabling conditions and cross-cutting issues.

Support will include technical assistance and policy collaboration on eight priority sectors: (1) transport, (2) electricity generation, (3) industry, (4) agriculture and livestock, (5) waste, (6) oil and gas, (7) land use, land use change and forestry, and (8) residential and commercial, while taking into consideration the mainstreaming of gender and human rights perspectives.

2. Sustainable Energy and Infrastructure

a. Promote offshore wind, low carbon hydrogen, electric vehicles, energy storage, and resilient and diverse clean energy supply chains with high national content by leveraging UK expertise and fostering national innovation and technological development, while facilitating regulatory, financial, and commercial engagement.

3. Nature Conservation, Restoration, and Sustainable Management

a. Support implementation of Mexico’s National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), to be aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Mexico’s NDC 3.0, and National Adaptation Plan under development, (“ADAPTAMX”).

b. Collaborate to enhance economic instruments aimed at achieving biodiversity targets, as well as supporting the implementation of the action lines under the NDC 3.0.

c. Strengthen bilateral cooperation in research, innovation, and technology transfer on a voluntary and jointly decided basis. Particularly in nature-based solutions, ecosystem‑based approaches, the establishment and consolidation of carbon sinks, restoration, protection, conservation, monitoring, the sustainable and interconnected use and management of ecosystems, early warning systems and climate resilience. All while promoting community well‑being, recognising the interdependence of biodiversity, culture and indigenous and local knowledge systems (biocultural heritage), and ensuring cooperation is gender-responsive and grounded in a human-rights approach.

4. Sustainable Finance

a. Promote the integration of climate and environmental risk considerations, particularly those that directly and disproportionately affect priority vulnerable populations, into decision-making, the adoption of sustainable taxonomies, and ESG standards.

b. Mobilise green and sustainable finance through promoting engagement with financial institutions, philanthropy, and the private sector to contribute to the NDC3.0 goals and ADAPTAMX.

c. Promote the development of innovative economic instruments such as thematic bonds, parametric insurance, and other risk transfer and risk retention mechanisms.

5. Water

a. Support Mexico’s efforts in efficient and sustainable water management, including river restoration, marine and coastal ecosystems restoration, water treatment and reuse, flood protection, and climate-resilient planning, leveraging the expertise of the UK where relevant.

b. Promote collaboration between UK and Mexican institutions for technology innovation and data-driven approaches to facilitate access to sustainable water supplies.

6. Industrial Decarbonisation

a. Support mechanisms for industrial decarbonisation strategies while promoting economic growth and social well-being.

b. Accelerate deployment of low-carbon technologies, promoting knowledge exchange and capacity building for their introduction and implementation in key sectors of the economy.

c. Identify scalable decarbonisation pathways, with emphasis on innovation and circularity.

d. Work on integrating circular‑economy principles into decarbonisation policies and actions in strategic sectors, promoting technical cooperation, technological innovation, resource‑use efficiency, green jobs, and social inclusion as key elements of a just transition toward a sustainable, competitive, and low‑carbon development model.

Paragraph 3: Forms of Cooperation and Implementation

1. In addition to the forms of cooperation set out for each area above, the Participants intend to pursue cooperation under this MoU through mutually agreed activities reflecting shared priorities and evolving circumstance and are consistent with the laws and regulations that apply in both countries, such as:

a. Technical cooperation and capacity building.
b. Joint research and knowledge sharing.
c. Exchange of experts and training programmes.
d. Organisation of conferences, workshops, and dialogues.
e. Facilitation of private sector engagement and business opportunities.
f. Promotion of civil society participation and other relevant stakeholders.
g. Other forms of cooperation as jointly decided.

2. Bi-annual climate dialogues or other exchanges may be convened to review progress and agree on initiatives. Implementation will be subject to resource availability and compliance with applicable laws and regulations in both countries.

Paragraph 4: Confidentiality and Intellectual Property

1. Each Participant will protect exchanged data and information in accordance with the laws and regulations that apply to each Participant in its respective territory. Except as required by those laws and regulations, neither Participant will disclose any such data or information to third parties without prior written consent.

2. If, as a result of the cooperation activities carried out in accordance with this MoU, products of commercial value and/or intellectual property rights are generated, these will be governed by the applicable national legislation on the matter, as well as by relevant international agreements that are binding on the Participants.

Paragraph 5: Funding

1. This MoU does not involve transfer of financial resources between Participants. The implementation of this MoU is subject to the Participants’ budgetary availability, as well as to any applicable legal provisions in force, and therefore does not in any way constitute a commitment of resources for subsequent fiscal years.

2. The Participants accept that all costs arising from the cooperation activities under this MoU should be assumed by the Participant who incurs them, unless otherwise decided jointly by the Participants in writing.

3. Financial arrangements for specific activities will be jointly decided in writing.

Paragraph 6: General Provisions

1. The Participants intend to amicably resolve any question concerning the interpretation or implementation of this MoU through mutual consultation and discussion.

2. This MoU represents an expression of the Participants’ intention in good faith to engage in the collaboration described and does not constitute a legally binding agreement or create any rights or obligations under domestic or international law.

3. Nothing in this MoU affects the Participants’ rights and obligations derived from international agreements and conventions to which they are parties or their obligations under domestic law.

4. This MoU will come into effect on the date of signing and will remain in effect for a period of 5 years.  Thereafter, this MoU may be extended for a further period of 5 years if jointly decided in writing by the Participants.

5. Notwithstanding anything in this MoU, either Participant may terminate this MoU by notifying the other Participant of its intention to terminate through written notice delivered through diplomatic channels, at least three months prior to the intended date of termination.

6. The termination of this MoU will not prevent the completion of the co-operation activities that might have been formalised prior to the date of the termination of this MoU, unless otherwise jointly decided between the Participants.

7. Revisions, modifications or amendments may be jointly decided in writing by the Participants at any time and will come into effect on such date as may be jointly decided by the Participants.

8. Any revision, modification or amendment will not prejudice the benefits and commitments arising from, or based on, this MoU before or up to the date of such revision, modification or amendment.

Signed in duplicate in London on 22 June 2026 in the English and Spanish languages, both texts having equal validity.

For the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

Katie White MP
Minister for Climate

For the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Government of the United Mexican States:

Jose Luis Samaniego Leyva
Undersecretary for Sustainable Development and Circular Economy