The rapid migration of Mexican citizens from rural to metropolitan areas in recent years, combined with vast industrial expansion, has created an increased awareness for the need to protect natural resources and the environment in order to provide for the health and welfare of the population. In 1988, under the administration of Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, Mexico developed a diversified economic policy which recognized restoration and protection of the environment as priorities. Today, the Zedillo administration is attempting to find a sustainable balance between economic growth and environmental concerns by implementing strong environmental policy, and by supporting environmental information systems, education, research, infrastructure development, and public participation in decision making processes. Environmental law in Mexico today, reflected in the recently amended General Act of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection, is as comprehensive as the laws of any nation in the world, and reaches every major area of environmental concern. Implementation and enforcement of these laws, however, continues to be problematic.

The General Environmental Act, which was clearly influenced by U.S. environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and National Environmental Policy Act, created for the first time specific criminal and administrative sanctions for failure to comply with regulations regarding hazardous materials. It further provided for a federal environmental agency to issue technological standards under which federal, state and local governments could impose sanctions for non-compliance.

Investment in Mexico’s environmental infrastructure is needed to bring money and technology into the country. This will allow Mexico to allocate its limited financial resources into projects and technology which will improve the environment and provide a higher quality of living for all its citizens, rather than dedicate these resources to compliance and enforcement activities.