Megacities & Climate Change

The UK-Mexico Sustainable Development Dialogue was launched with Mexico in October 2006 between UK Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett and her Mexican counterpart, Luis Ernesto Derbez. Download the Mexico-UK Joint Statement here. The Work Programme is available to download here.

Six priority work themes have been agreed and initial activities identified to take forward under each of the following areas for collaboration:

•    National governance for sustainable development
•    Climate change and energy
•    Sustainable tourism
•    Sustainable consumption and production
•    Sustainable urban development and sustainable cities
•    Natural resources management

Projects funded under UK - Mexico Sustainable Development Dialogue

These projects are all included in the initial work programme 2007-2008. The SDD team and British Embassy Mexico are currently in discussions on developing a new work programme for the 2008-2009 period.

National Governance for Sustainable Development

Improving Governance of wildlife resources through the enhancement of CITES Implementation and Sustainable use practices in Mexico

This project aims to improve national governance related to natural resources by building on the achievements and products of the current UK FCO-supported TRAFFIC project ‘Building capacity to conserve Mexico’s biodiversity: Improving CITES Implementation and Sustainable management practices in Mexico’. To strengthen capacity at the local and national level in order to improve implementation and enforcement of Mexico’s wildlife protection laws, in particular, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This project is being implemented by TRAFFIC North America.

Establishment of a Metropolitan Sustainability Agenda for the Valley of Mexico

This project aims to set planning and evaluation means for sound sustainability policies to be implemented by metropolitan authorities of Mexico City. This agenda will be a critical input to co-ordinate public policies launched by government entities in the metropolitan area of Mexico City and will integrate, at a metropolitan scale, programs which require different levels of governmental duties. Initial meetings with main stakeholders have taken place, as has an evaluation of environmental sustainability indicators systems. Also, environmental sustainability policies in the metropolitan area of Mexico City have been collected and compiled, and a seminar took place where stakeholders defined the methodology, consultation frameworks and data management procedures. The project is being implemented by Mexico City Environment Ministry and El Colegio de Mexico, a well-known research institution.

Climate change and Energy

Biodiversity for biofuels and biodiesel in arid lands (BIO3)

The objective of this project is to assess the potential of, and shortcomings to, developing renewable energy sources and industries in arid and marginal lands. A Regional workshop entitled “Bioenergy, Biodiesel and Biodiversity in Arid Lands”, with arid lands experts will take place on the 27th and 28th  November 2008. This event aims to promote scientific and technical dialogue to identify new sources for biofuels production as well as new and sustainable ways of production, innovative processes and techniques for obtaining input materials. The workshop will also discuss their environmental and economic feasibility.

This project is being implemented by INE and the University of Sonora, which is located in one of Mexico’s most arid states.

Sustainable Tourism

Best practice implementation of Tourism business along the Mexican Caribbean

The aim of this project is to develop a tool which provides the requirements and methodology to operate a competitive sustainable tourism service (using Rainforest Alliance’s Best Practices Guide for sustainable tourism). 25 hotels have already signed a MoU agreeing to participate, although so far only 10 have completed their diagnosis, which is a prerequisite for the hotel to develop its action plan and thus receive technical assistance.  This project is being implemented by Semarnat and the Rainforest Alliance.

Sustainable Production and Consumption

Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management

The aim of this project is to develop an integrated programme for the Implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). SAICM is a non-binding international agreement to encourage governments and other stakeholders to protect human health and the environment, by addressing chemical safety more effectively in all relevant sectors, such as agriculture, environment, health, industry and labour. Through this project, Mexico will begin to develop an integrated approach to chemical management.  This requires a co-ordinated effort from the different government departments (the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Health, Transport, Economy, Energy and Labour), from industry, from academia, and from other sectors of civil society.

The project has successfully held a priority setting workshop for the assessment and management of chemicals, with attendance of different sectors that manage chemicals. Latin America and Caribbean regional workshop will take place in December 2008, where lessons learned will be shared with the rest of the region. This project is being implemented by Mexico’s National Ecology Institute and Tec of Monterrey’s Centre for Environmental Quality.

Assessment of the development, manufacture, and use of nanomaterials in Mexico

The aim of this project is to provide knowledge of Mexico’s situation regarding the manufacture, development, and use of nanomaterials. It will provide valuable information about the risks associated with the use of nanomaterials in Mexico and will enhance public awareness about the importance of responsible development of nanomaterials. It will further support international efforts in gathering information about manufactured nanomaterials and their effect on human health and the environment.

A national level workshop has successfully taken place and a regional workshop (Latin America and Caribbean) will take place next December. The regional workshop aims to bring together experts in order to establish research priorities and strategies for the promotion on the responsible development and use of nanomaterials, as well as to get policy recommendations. This project is being implemented by INE and the Science and Technology Institute of San Luis Potosi.

Design and development of a chemicals inventory

The aim of this project is to design a method of integrating sources of information, and implement an operating system for effective chemicals inventory management, supported by a legal framework. The inventory will provide reliable and up-to-date data about the different uses of chemicals, and will support decision making and strengthen regulatory and voluntary schemes for the management of industrial substances.

This project will also contribute to the implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) project, currently on-going with ISDF funds. This project is being implemented by INE and Tec of Monterrey’s Centre for Environmental Quality.

Mexico Industrial Symbiosis Programme (MISP)

The aim of this project is to design, integrate sources of information, and implement an operating system for effective chemicals inventory management; supported on a legal framework. This project is being jointly implemented by NISP and CONCAMIN.

Sustainable Cities

Promoting Transit-Oriented Development in Mexico City

The aim of this project is create a prototype of Transit-Oriented Development applicable to the Mexican context by supporting the Secretary of Urban Development (SEDUVI) to focus investment and development around major urban corridors in Mexico City. The project will provide criteria and support for developing the new systems in accordance with Transit-Oriented Development principles, which are based on combining different modes of transport and on pedestrian accessibility. Prototypes will be developed in one of the city’s busiest area: Eje Central (12.5 kilometres). Officials from different departments such as Environment, Transport and Urban Development have taken part in ingrated meetings to decide on project design and implementation. TOD experts from Europe, such as the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment and Gehl Architects, have also participated. Construction of the site, called by the Mexico City Government “Zero Emissions corridor”, has been announced by the governor and tendered, so should start shortly. This project is being implemented by the Centre for Sustainable Transport (CTS-Mexico), in partnership with Mexico City’s Urban Development Department (SEDUVI).

Sustainable Urban Plan for the Metropolitan Region of the State of Nuevo Leon

The aim of this project is to develop a Regional Management Plan that regulates urban public policies for regional governance through sustainability land policies of ground and constructed media.  Plan has the integrative character of the Sub-Regional planning, and should contemplate an equitable distribution of natural resources, economy, land and ecosystems, ensuring regional biodiversity. It is being implemented by the Nuevo Leon Urban Development Planning Agency (DUNL).

Closure of municipal waste dumps

The aim of this project is to fulfil Mexican Official Standard (NOM) 083-SEMARNAT-2003, whereby municipal governments had to close their local dumps by December 2007. However, local governments do not have the human or economic resources to do so, and have now been receiving training on the ways to fulfil this norm. A guide will be developed and shared with other municipalities and states. It is being implemented by Nuevo Leon State Environment Agency.

Congestion Charge policy team member visit to Mexico

The aim of this project is to identify collaboration opportunities for sharing experiences on sustainable transport policies. An official from Transport for London came to share the experience on the Congestion Charging system in the UK and explore the interest in Mexican officials in the subject. It was implemented by Transport for London and the British Embassy Mexico City.

Natural Resources Management

Regional action plan for the sustainable management of the mangrove swamps in Nayarit

by improving the capacity of local stakeholders (Ejidos) by developing tools for wetland restoration, conservation, ecotourism, and wise-use.

The aim of this project is to build the capacity of the local communities (Ejidos) to improve the conservation and restoration of the mangroves of Nayarit. It also aims to assist with the sustainable management of mangrove swamps in Nayarit by improving the capacity of the local stakeholders, by developing tools for wetland conservation, restoration, ecotourism and wise-use.

It is being implemented by the Mexican National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), with the participation of Nayarit state authorities, National Water Commission, and National Mangroves experts.

Building local capacity to manage biodiversity in community conserved areas of the Chinantla (Oaxaca)

The aim of this project is to enhance Chinantla communal conserved areas (CCAs) and local livelihoods by strengthening the capacity of indigenous people and collaborating researchers to document, use and manage biological resources while promoting traditional ecological knowledge. This innovative strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity does not require the local people to give up ownership and management of their forest resources.

This project has national and global implications, and builds on efforts dating from the 1980s to improve local livelihoods through community forestry, environmental services payments (ESPs) and production of organic coffee. At the same time, it is based on collaboration between indigenous peoples, academic centres, NGOs and governmental agencies, community conservation and aims to avoid deforestation, maintaining hydrological resources and protecting biodiversity. It is being implemented by the Global Diversity Foundation (GDF).

Integrating the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment into sustainable development policy

The aim of this project was to train policy makers and other stakeholders on the importance of the MA to policy makers; including the relevance of the information to specific sectors; suggest tools and approaches for integrating the MA findings into national level sustainable development policy. It was implemented by UNEP-WCMC and the Mexican National Biodiversity Commission (CONABIO)

Visit by UK Forestry Commission Officer

The aim of this project was to identify collaboration opportunities for sharing experiences on sustainable forest management, as well as to explore possibilities for setting up a forestry UK-Mexico working group. It was implemented by UK Forestry Commission and British Embassy Mexico City

Other projects

There are a number of other projects funded by the Strategic Program Fund which relate to the work we are undertaking under the UK-Mexico SDD. You can view a full list of these projects here.

For more information on SDDs in Mexico, visit Defra’s Sustainable Development Unit’s web site.