Mexico took a significant step forward in January 2020 by initiating the pilot phase of its emissions trading system (ETS), making it the first country in Latin America to adopt such a system. The launch was a key milestone – eight years after the legal basis was established to develop the ETS. In this period the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) has been developing the rules for the system, with the objective of reducing emissions efficiently, without affecting the competitiveness of national industries in the international market. To support this endeavour, a consortium of international and local experts came together to provide technical advisory services and capacity building for the successful implementation of the pilot phase and the design of the operational phase for the Mexican ETS.