Analysis

Air pollution at sunset

Here’s How Mexico Can Clean Up Its Dirty Energy Industry

As delegates from around the world finish up their business in Glasgow at the United Nations climate conference, Mexico has not increased its emissions-mitigation goal, as countries pledged under the 2015 Paris Agreement. Its president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is doubling down on policies that would make his country the second-largest greenhouse gas emitter in Latin America and the 16th largest in the world, even more of a polluter.

Lisa Viscidi, MK Vereen

Articles & Op-Eds ˙

Sembra Infraestructura

Member in the News: Tania Ortiz Mena

Tania Ortiz Mena, former CEO of IEnova, a leading energy company in Mexico, was appointed as president of the Clean Energy and Infrastructure group of the company Sempra Infraestructura, as well as president of Sempra Infraestructura for Mexico. 

Tania Ortiz Mena

Member in the News ˙

Image of Lisa Viscidi and Robert Stonerthe Video

The Role of Natural Gas in a Decarbonized World – Regional Insights

On June 14, the Atlantic Council and the Energy Futures Initiative held a webinar on the role of natural gas in the transition to zero-carbon energy systems. Lisa Viscidi, director of the Energy, Climate Change & Extractive Industries Program at the Dialogue, spoke about financing natural gas infrastructure in Latin America.

Lisa Viscidi

Presentations ˙ ˙ The Atlantic Council

collage of speaker headshots and image of a wind farm Video

Electrification and Innovation Among Key Private Sector Strategies in Latin America’s Energy Transition

As the energy transition gathers pace and Latin American countries raise their emissions reduction targets, private companies are revising their business models to meet demand for renewable energy and other solutions. The United States has also reemerged as a partner on climate action in the region. This webinar explored the current and potential role of the private sector in Latin America’s energy transition and how the United States can provide support.

Jamie Dorner

Event Summaries ˙

una vista de Cusco, Perú / a view of Cuzco, Peru

A More Sustainable Peru Post-Covid-19

Covid-19 has devastated the Peruvian economy. But as the country seeks to rebuild in the virus’s wake, it has a chance to focus on fighting climate change and creating a more sustainable development model. The extractive industries central to Peru’s economy are a source of underutilized revenues that could help seize this opportunity. 

Lisa Viscidi, Nate Graham

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ El Comercio

Report Cover for Power Grab: What Mexico's State-Centered Electricity Policy Means for Trade, Climate, and the Economy cover

Power Grab: What Mexico’s State-Centered Electricity Policy Means for Trade, Climate, and the Economy

Over the past two years, the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has sought to strip away central aspects of the 2013 energy reform that increased private investment in the power sector and return control of the sector to state utility CFE. These moves will reduce needed investment in the sector and lead to higher electricity costs for Mexican industry and manufacturing, affecting employment, trade, and Mexico’s ability to meet its clean energy targets, according to this new report by the Inter-American Dialogue.

Lisa Viscidi, Nate Graham, Sarah Phillips

Reports ˙ ˙ Download Report

Speakers at the Fourth Annual Latin America Energy Conference Video

Speakers discuss national oil company strategies, the energy transition, and US-Latam energy relations at the Dialogue’s annual energy conference

2020 has been a tumultuous year for Latin America’s energy sector. The global pandemic has led to a sharp decline in oil demand and prices even as clean energy investments accelerate. With presidential elections around the corner in the United States, the future of US energy diplomacy in the region is unclear. Industry executives, government officials, and corporate representatives convened to discuss the challenges and opportunities in today’s energy markets during the virtual Fourth Annual Energy Conference.

María José Rocha

Event Summaries ˙

Oil rig at sunset Video

Latin American State Oil Companies and Climate Change

Lisa Viscidi, director of the Energy, Climate Change and Extractive Industries Program, sat down with Natural Gas World to discuss her recent report, Latin American State Oil Companies: Decarbonization Strategies and Role in the Energy Transition.

Lisa Viscidi

Podcasts ˙ ˙ In a Nutshell

Natural gas pipeline

Q&A with Lisa Viscidi on Mexico’s Natural Gas Market Development

Lisa Viscidi, director of the Energy, Climate Change & Extractive Industries Program, spoke with Natural Gas Intelligence’s Adam Williams about recent regulatory changes to Mexico’s energy sector and how they are impacting the country’s natural gas market. They discuss obstacles that could affect the country’s energy sovereignty, investment opportunities, natural gas imports from the United States, and concerns surrounding political risk in the sector.

Lisa Viscidi, Adam Williams

Interviews ˙ ˙ Natural Gas Intelligence

Turmoil in South America and the Impact on Energy Markets

2019 has been a tumultuous year for South America. In recent months, mass protests have swept across several countries, including major oil and gas producers Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. Continued political and social turbulence will likely contribute to stagnant oil and gas production growth in these countries. Conversely, Brazil and Guyana are on track to become the region’s largest sources of supply growth.

Lisa Viscidi

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ Istituto Affari Internazionali

Experts Divided on Prospects for a Shift in AMLO’s Energy Policy

This event, hosted in collaboration with the Institute of the Americas, aimed to examine the issues facing Mexico’s climate for energy investment across various sectors including power, renewables, oil and natural gas.

Sarah Phillips

Event Summaries ˙

Video

Assessing the Outlook for Energy Investment in Latin America

2019 marks the first year since new leaders in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico took office. We can now see more clearly the way their policy decisions have affected the energy sector and opportunities for investment. Meanwhile, Argentina holds presidential elections later this month. Venezuela, in turn, faces a worsening economic crisis as oil production plummets. Industry experts, government officials, and corporate representatives convened to discuss these issues and their regional impacts on October 2 at the Inter-American Dialogue.

Julia Weil

Event Summaries ˙