Summary
In 2013, the name of the “Environmental Law of the Federal District” in Mexico City was changed to “Environmental Law for the Protection of Land in the Federal District” (Ley Ambiental de Protección a la Tierra en la Ciudad de México) with several provisions amended and added. The new law maintains the right to a healthy environment but also recognizes the responsibility of all people towards the Earth and its natural resources, and emphasizes that the Earth is an indivisible community of all living beings (48-49).
Chapter 1 Article 86 states, “The Earth is a dynamic living system made up of the indivisible community of all life systems and living beings, interrelated, interdependent and complementary, which share a common destiny…Life systems are complex and dynamic communities of plants, animals, microorganisms, other beings and their environment, where human communities interact together with the rest of nature as a functional unit, under the influence of climatic, physiographic and geological factors, as well as productive practices, cultural diversity, and the worldviews of indigenous groups.” (48).
In January 2016, the former Federal District officially transitioned to Ciudad de México (CDMX) and became the 32nd federal entity of Mexico, giving it autonomy comparable to that of a state. The transition included Mexico City creating its own constitution and legislature, in line with the other Mexican federal states. However, the city remains the capital and administrative seat of the Mexican federal government. It can never become a state, unless the capital of Mexico is relocated elsewhere.
The Environmental Law for the Protection of the Land in Mexico City was repealed in 2024 and replaced by a new law that includes provisions on the rights of nature, per the new Constitution of Mexico City created in 2017.
Related Initiatives
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2026. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/mexico-city-environmental-law-2/.
When using our data, please follow the FAIR and CARE Principles for data governance outlined in our Ethics Statement. We are doing our best to be correct in the information we provide, but if you notice any omission or inaccuracy, please report this to us immediately at info@ecojurisprudence.org so we can correct it.
Eco Jurisprudence Tracker is licensed under CC BY 4.0
