Baja California Sur
Government Structure and Role
Population: 798,447 (2020)
GDP: MXN262 billion / US$13 billion
Geographic area (sq miles/kilometers):
71,576 km² / 27,636 sq mi
Major economic sectors: Retail Trade, Temporary Accommodation Services, Food and Beverage Preparation services, Manufacturing
Governments & Jurisdictions: Five municipalities: Comondú, La Paz, Loreto, Los Cabos, and Mulegé
Governance on Climate Change
Key laws and strategies
The Government of the State of Baja California Sur presented the Climate Change Law to the State Congress on July 25, 2023. This law provides a regulatory framework on climate change, reinforcing the State's commitment to comprehensive climate action. The Climate Change Law is currently awaiting approval in Congress, along with the Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection.
The State also has the State Action Plan on Climate Change (PEACC) which aims to “provide the people of Baja California Sur with reliable information to understand the phenomenon of climate change, as well as its current and potential impacts on natural heritage, productive activities, and the well-being of the state's inhabitants. This information also constitutes a solid basis for the State Government and municipalities to consider incorporating mitigation and adaptation measures into their development plans.”
Additionally, the State Risk Atlas is in the process of being published. This Atlas includes a section called "Climate Change," which represents the introductory chapter to the PEACC. Some of the topics mentioned are temperature, sea level rise, tropical cyclones, energy, high vulnerability groups, desertification and droughts, and water supply and access. There is also the State Fire Management Program 2024, which “establishes the strategies and lines of action that will promote and strengthen the coordination of actions for the prevention, detection, and fighting of forest fires,” the General Law of Sustainable Forest Development and its Regulation.
Internal governance structure
The Government of the State of Baja California Sur, as part of the Secretariat of Urban Planning, Infrastructure, Mobility, Environment, and Natural Resources (SEPUIMM), has the General Directorate of Environment and Natural Resources, which consists of four area directorates: the Directorate of Environmental Management, Directorate of Sustainability Liaison, Directorate of Forest Development, and the most recent, Directorate of Climate Change published in the Official Gazette of the State Government on May 31, 2023 (BOGE No. 33).
The Directorate of Climate Change consists of seven members and aims to assist in the formulation, updating, and evaluation of state policy on climate change in line with national and international policy, and also assists in the formulation and implementation of mitigation and adaptation actions and criteria in accordance with the National Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Directorate of Forest Development consists of four members and aims to assist in the development of agreements and coordination, cooperation, and consultation agreements in forestry matters and act as a liaison for their proper implementation, assisting the necessary functions to comply with the powers conferred on the Secretariat in forestry matters. It also manages and develops projects that include the direct participation of the owners and holders of forest resources in the protection, conservation, restoration, monitoring, management, use, transformation, and commercialization of these resources, and serves as a liaison for these actions.
Recent and Projected Impacts: MCAP Priority Climate Risks
Drought: In Baja California Sur, temperatures are increasing more in the northwest of the State and areas like Sierra de Guadalupe and Sierra de La Giganta, exacerbating water stress conditions. The region is experiencing a significant decrease in average annual precipitation, along with an increase in evapotranspiration, reducing water availability and soil moisture.
Extreme Heat: The impact of extreme heat has increased in recent years in the State. These changes worsen drought conditions, increasing vulnerability and susceptibility to forest fires.
Forest Fires: In 2021, the state witnessed a 27% increase in forest fires compared to the previous year, with 562 incidents recorded, damaging forests, agricultural fields, and air quality. This led to the destruction of 900,000 hectares, with a 69% increase in the burned area, directly related to rising temperatures and decreasing precipitation.