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From federal to city mitigation and adaptation: climate change policy in Mexico City

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Abstract

Climate change is projected to affect Latin America and the Caribbean as a result of increased temperatures and changed rainfall patterns. The impacts of climate change are expected to be unevenly distributed throughout the region, due to differences in geographic location, demographic pressures, levels of poverty, and natural resource dependence. To date, few studies have explored these impacts and the governmental responses to cope with them at a city scale. This article examines the challenges faced by the Mexico City government as it translates the federal climate change policy into successful mitigation and adaptation. It analyzes climate change impacts on Mexico and Mexico City (also known as the Federal District), the federal and city’s mitigation and adaptation responses, and advances and contradictions in the implementation of these strategies at the national and city levels. Similar problems have limited the effectiveness of these actions at both the federal and city levels, including the overexploitation of natural resources, a lack of climate information and monitoring systems, and the subordination of climate change strategies to the objectives of economic growth and poverty reduction. These problems have resulted in poor coordination and collaboration among various levels of government to cope with climate change, in addition to avoiding local capacity building, particularly in regard to forest conservation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was conducted with the financial support of the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT). Contributions from the Mexico City Water System (SACM) and the National Meteorological Service (SMN) from the National Water Commission (Conagua) are greatly appreciated. The author thanks Linda Mortsch, Jean Andrey and Mary McPherson (University of Waterloo, Canada) for their support and feedback.

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  1. Economic Growth and Environment Group, Department of Economics, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana (UAM)-Azcapotzalco, Av. San Pablo Xalpa # 180. Reynosa Tamaulipas, Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, 02200, Mexico

    Fabiola S. Sosa-Rodriguez

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Correspondence to Fabiola S. Sosa-Rodriguez.

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Sosa-Rodriguez, F.S. From federal to city mitigation and adaptation: climate change policy in Mexico City. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 19, 969–996 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-013-9455-1

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