The Social Impact Assessments (SIA) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in Mexico: CSR Tools for Sustainable Development or Just a Legal Process to Fulfill?

Abstract

For more than six decades, the Mexican oil industry has been dominated by the state-owned enterprise Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex). However, the 2014 energy reform signified a significant shift, allowing foreign entities to enter the petroleum sector for the first time in more than half a century. This paper analyzes the evolution of Social Impact Assessments (SIA) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in this new context. It analyzes their effectiveness as instruments for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and evaluates their potential contributions to sustainable development goals. Drawing on empirical research carried out by a team at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), this study underscores the necessity of these assessments in the prevailing regulatory environment.