Carolina Herrera, Latin America Advocate, Washington DC

Mexico’s National Congress has given the Ministry of the Environment (SEMARNAT) just fifteen days to report back on actions surrounding the environmental impact approvals granted to the controversial Cabo Cortés mega-tourism project. The Congress also urged the Ministry to explore cancelling the project’s permits all together. The massive Cabo Cortés project is proposed by the local subsidiary of Spanish developer Hansa Urbana on land neighboring Cabo Pulmo National Park – a critical marine reserve in Baja California Sur that protects one of the region’s most important coral reefs.  Last year SEMARNAT granted key permits to the project, despite a woefully weak environmental assessment and serious concerns that the project would irreparably degrade this fragile area. As NRDC’s recent investor advisory report on the project points out, this increasing political scrutiny is just one reason why Cabo Cortés would be an imprudent investment for potential investors.   There can be better and more sustainable alternatives for the Cabo Pulmo region, but this particular type of project is not it. Investors, and the Mexican government, should just say no to Cabo Cortés.

A couple of months ago, the Senate’s Natural Resources and Environment Commission ...

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