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A stakeholder driven process to reduce vulnerability to climate change in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change volume 12, pages 935–955 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

While there is a growing body of knowledge on potential impacts of climate change on water availability, there has been much less empirical research on exploring the viability of particular adaptation options. The participation of stakeholders in defining appropriate adaptation strategies is increasingly recognized as a critical element in the translation of climate change impact research into effective actions to reduce future vulnerability, yet the process by which stakeholders are included in such initiatives is not well-defined. This article presents the results of a pilot project in which a participatory approach was employed to identify and evaluate adaptation options to climate change scenarios for Sonora’s capital city, Hermosillo. In an iterative process, stakeholders representing different water users and managers in the city met to discuss climate change scenarios, identify specific adaptation options, and evaluate a subset of options for possible future implementation. This process enabled the focus of the investigation on those adaptations that addressed not only concerns with the potential future impacts of climate change but also the immediate and pressing concerns about development patterns and water use in the city. Two of the adaptations to climate change identified by stakeholders would also reduce energy demand. The simplicity of the approach makes it a feasible model for adaptation initiatives in other regions of Mexico and in other countries in Latin America.

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Notes

  1. The presentation of the adaptation options for Hermosillo to policy-makers and industry representatives at the federal level after the project’s completion also generated substantial interest and resulted in a tentative proposal to link the options proposed for Hermosillo to national climate change adaptation policy development.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was generously provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Atmospheric Protection through contract 68-W-02-027 with Stratus Consulting Inc. We gratefully acknowledge the support of Jack Fitzgerald and Jane Leggett at U.S.EPA. We also acknowledge the support of Adrian Fernandez and Julia Martinez of the National Institute of Ecology (INE) in the Mexican government (SEMARNAT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-4060, USA

    Hallie Eakin

  2. Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF CP, 04510, Mexico

    Victor Magaña

  3. Stratus Consulting Inc, P.O. Box 4059, Boulder, CO, 80306-4059, USA

    Joel Smith

  4. El Colegio de Sonora, Calle Obregón #54, Col. Centro, Hermosillo, Sonora, CP, 83000, Mexico

    José Luis Moreno & José Maria Martínez

  5. Universidad de Sonora, Blvd. Luis Encinas y Rosales, Col. Centro, Hermosilo, Sonora, Mexico

    Osvaldo Landavazo

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  1. Hallie Eakin
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  2. Victor Magaña
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Correspondence to Hallie Eakin.

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Eakin, H., Magaña, V., Smith, J. et al. A stakeholder driven process to reduce vulnerability to climate change in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Mitig Adapt Strat Glob Change 12, 935–955 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-007-9107-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-007-9107-4

Keywords

  • Adaptation
  • Mexico
  • Stakeholder participation
  • Water management