▲ The head of Semarnat announced her decalogue of principles to protect our biodiversity.Photo The Day
Jared Laureles
La Jornada Newspaper
Saturday, October 5, 2024, p. 8
When introducing her work team, the new Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), Alicia Bárcena, asserted that as part of her ecological and humanist environmental policy she will seek recover the rectory
of natural resources and banish the extractivist neoliberal paradigm, which generates inequalities
.
In his first message as head of the agency to workers in the sector, in which he announced a decalogue of principles or seeds of hope
also stressed the importance of protecting the natural heritage and biodiversity, as well as the sanitation and restoration of basins, forests and rivers, such as the Lerma-Santiago, Tula, Atoyac and the Sonora-Bacanuchi – where 10 years ago 40 million were spilled. of liters of hazardous waste from the Buenavista del Cobre mining company, owned by Grupo México.
The diplomat and biologist pointed out that among the principles that will guide her management are ensuring the right to a healthy environment, preventing natural disasters, and that infrastructure megaprojects are required to incorporate environmental criteria and value.
In a videoconference, from the Semarnat offices, Bárcena pointed out that the agency will support the large strategic infrastructure projects, both those of the previous administration and those that will continue in the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum.
We want to be there from day one to see how the environmental impact statement can be done. We are not opposed to this development, but it has to be articulated with an ecological and environmental policy.
he stated.
He emphasized that the Secretariat and its deconcentrated bodies will work based on evidence and knowledge, because what is not measured does not count
; Geographic and statistical information will be key to the development of institutional capacities, and to disseminate clear and timely data, he indicated.
The former head of the Economic Commission for Latin America said that during her 20-year stay at the United Nations she confirmed the urgency of speeding up the pace towards ecological restoration, but without fighting with development, we must work in a harmonious manner.
Noting that she assumes the position with enormous gratitude towards President Sheinbaum, Bárcena listed her collaborators and appointed Marina Robles García as undersecretary of Environmental Policy and Natural Resources, and Ileana Villalobos Estrada, undersecretary of Environmental Regulation. Also to José Luis Samaniego Leyva, responsible for Climate Change and Development; Mariana Boy Tamborrell, head of the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection; Efraín Morales López, director of the National Water Commission; Sergio Graf, from the National Forestry Commission, to Raúl Jiménez Rosenberg, from the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity, and to Pedro Álvarez-Icaza, head of the Commission of Protected Natural Areas.
He reported that Armando Ocampo will be the new head of the Security, Energy and Environment Agency, and ratified Víctor Hugo Páramo as head of the Environmental Commission of the Megalópolis, as well as Julieta González, as the new head of the Administration and Finance.
