Mexico is pledging to cut its carbon pollution in half by 2050 in an effort to address climate change.
Environment Minister Juan Rafael Elvira made the comment Thursday during United Nations climate talks in Poznan, Poland. He said Mexican President Felipe Calderon will provide more details in February and that the target is half the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in Mexico in 2002.
Separately, a new World Bank report calls on Latin America not to sacrifice efforts to confront climate change in the midst of the global economic slowdown.
The report "Low Carbon, High Growth: Latin American Responses to Climate Change" says while Latin America is not a major polluter compared with others, its carbon emissions are increasing and that its countries and citizens, especially those living in extreme poverty (less than a dollar a day) are highly vulnerable.
The report says based on current trends, it is projected that between 2005 and 2030, per capita carbon energy emissions will grow by one third, higher than the world's average of 24 percent.
The World Bank, however, is urging the international community to look to Latin America for innovative solutions to avert a climate crisis,
The bank says Latin America, as the world's most biodiverse region, is in a position to lead middle income countries in areas such as reducing emissions from deforestation, improving energy efficiency and transforming urban transport. The report says Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru are five of the world's 10 most biodiverse countries.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
