International Field: Mexico
International Field Investigations –
The Gulf of Mexico at a Crossroads
From August 26-30, 2024, Earthworks accompanied Mexican not-for-profit organizations CEMDA (Mexican Environmental Law Center) and Conexiones Climáticas on a visit to communities affected by an ever-expanding oil and gas infrastructure in Campeche and Tabasco in the Gulf of Mexico.
We found significant evidence of air pollution affecting communities from oil, gas, and refinery facilities. (SEE: playlist of our findings here.)This was most evident in urban areas like Paraiso, Tabasco, but also in nearby rural areas surrounding Comalcalco, Tabasco and Atasta, Campeche, and crossing the state border into Reforma, Chiapas. Community members complained of strong smells of hydrocarbon gasses, as well as recurring strong headaches, nausea, nosebleeds, and general malaise. These communities are the sacrifice zones for the global economic model that favors mega-development and until-the-last-drop fossil fuel extraction and production.
Earthworks’ International Energy Field Investigations works in partnership with local communities and non-profit organizations seeking to visually demonstrate the climate and human impacts from methane pollution and other toxic emissions released from oil and gas operations. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is 86 times more powerful at warming the climate than carbon dioxide in a much shorter period of time of 20 years..
Emissions also often include harmful gases like benzene, ethanol, butane, ethylene, ethylbenzene, xylene, hydrogen sulfide, silica dust, nitrogen oxide, and propane. Pollution from existing and expanding oil and gas operations is increasing the likelihood of health impacts such as effects on the nervous system, organ damage (including kidneys, brain, liver, and lungs), and various cancers.
View Full Size StoryMap ⏐ Updated October 23, 2024