The Challenge of Deploying Wind Energy in Mexico: The Case of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec

The Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA) and the Mexican Environmental Law Center (CEMDA) report that at least 14 wind projects in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, have generated social and environmental costs that outweigh their benefits. The authors highlight the failure of the Mexican government to ensure free, prior, and informed consent for indigenous communities, the use of unreasonable land lease terms, and the occurrence of threats and violence against local opposition. Environmental damages cited include mangrove deforestation and the destruction of migratory bird habitats. The document calls for a human rights-based development protocol and a process to measure project externalities to ensure sustainability and community benefit.

• The Mexican government authorized at least 14 wind projects in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, which are expected to produce over 800 thousand MWs per annum from 180 MW projects. These projects, supported by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the Inter-American Development Bank, have ignored the human rights of local indigenous communities, particularly the right to free, prior, and informed consent.
• The lack of government regulation for these investments has led to several critical issues: developers have not provided comprehensive information to residents, land lease contracts offer inadequate payments, and there is a lack of community-wide benefit, with gains primarily accruing to investors and energy buyers.
• Opposition to wind development has been met with violence, with Jijot and Zapoteca communities reporting threats and attacks by state officials and paramilitary groups over a period of more than two years.
• Wind projects have caused significant environmental damage without the use of studies to prevent or alleviate these impacts. Specific damages include the destruction of migratory bird habitats, mangrove deforestation, and the burning of pastureland, which releases greenhouse gases.

APA

CMW (2012). The Challenge of Deploying Wind Energy in Mexico: The Case of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Carbon Market Watch. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2012/12/21/the-challenge-of-deploying-wind-energy-in-mexico-the-case-of-the-isthmus-of-tehuantepec-watch-this-4/

Chicago

CMW. The Challenge of Deploying Wind Energy in Mexico: The Case of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Carbon Market Watch, 2012. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2012/12/21/the-challenge-of-deploying-wind-energy-in-mexico-the-case-of-the-isthmus-of-tehuantepec-watch-this-4/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=CMW |title=The Challenge of Deploying Wind Energy in Mexico: The Case of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec |publisher=Carbon Market Watch |date=21 December 2012 |url=https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2012/12/21/the-challenge-of-deploying-wind-energy-in-mexico-the-case-of-the-isthmus-of-tehuantepec-watch-this-4/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{cmw2012challenge, author = {CMW}, title = {{The Challenge of Deploying Wind Energy in Mexico: The Case of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec}}, publisher = {Carbon Market Watch}, year = {2012}, month = dec, url = {https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2012/12/21/the-challenge-of-deploying-wind-energy-in-mexico-the-case-of-the-isthmus-of-tehuantepec-watch-this-4/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }