Last Updated on June 13, 2025
In a landmark ruling this week, Mexico’s Segundo Tribunal Colegiado en Materia Administrativa (Second Collegiate Administrative Court) has ordered a critical expert evaluation to assess the risks of fracking operations in the Totonac peoples territory, within the Papantla region of Veracruz.
The decision not only upholds the human right to a healthy environment; It also applies the precautionary principle to protect nature from irreversible damage.
A comprehensive socio-environmental study will now be carried out to document potential impacts from Pemex’s hydraulic fracturing operations in the region.
Location of Papantla in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.
Fracking has already been used in at least 1,231 Pemex oil wells in Papantla without any local consultation. This has raised serious concerns over water contamination and other public health risks that have become synonymous with fracking.
A serious hydrocarbon spill in Ojital Viejo in 2024, left unaddressed by Pemex for more than a month, has underscored these concerns.
Community leaders and environmental advocates are now calling on authorities to respect the ruling by halting fracking operations pending the thorough risk assessment.
Whether or not the operations are halted, the Court’s decision marks a pivotal moment for Totonac self-determination and environmental justice in Veracruz. By ensuring scientific scrutiny of fracking’s impacts, the court has opened a pathway toward safeguarding sacred lands, water resources, and community health.
Across the world right now, Indigenous peoples are facing a renewed assault on their lands, rights, and ways of life.
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