Mexico: Environmental defense and indigenous rights under threat

In Mexico, the intersection of environmental protection and human rights remains a critical issue for indigenous communities and religious leaders. Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, emeritus bishop of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, emphasizes that protecting the ‘common home’ is a central mission of the Church, noting that for indigenous peoples in Chiapas, territory is essential for preserving culture, spirituality, and community life.

This environmental concern is echoed by the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), which has identified a triple crisis in Mexico involving climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The degradation of ecosystems directly impacts human health, food security, and social peace.

The human cost of this struggle is highlighted by the case of Sergio Rivera Hernández, a Nahua indigenous man and member of the Zapatista Indigenous Agrarian Movement. Eight years after his disappearance, his community continues to seek justice. Rivera Hernández was an active defender of the Coyolapa River and the Sierra Negra territory in Puebla, resisting hydroelectric projects that threatened to divert local water sources for corporate interests. His case underscores the risks faced by those defending land and water against industrial exploitation.