Antecedentes

1
Lessons from history for contemporary governance
economy-society and the environment
Semarnat-MEXICO
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This is Mexico Our Biodiversity
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This is Mexico Natural and Cultural Heritage
4
This is Mexico Centre of origin of important
species
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The Megadiverse Countries are biologically and
culturally rich
Mexico is a Megadiverse country

• The sixth place in biodiversity with the largest
  variety of plant and animal species on the
  planet, the others are Costa Rica, Colombia,
  Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, South Africa, Kenya,
  India, China, Indonesia and Malaysia.
• The third place in cultural diversity with 62
  indigenous languages
• 118 plant species with high economical value,
  such as corn, tomatoes, avocados, cocoa,
  zucchini, tobacco, cotton, chewing gum, agaves,
  chilli, poinsettias, indigo, guava and vanilla

6
MEXICO

• One of the largest coasts of Latin America
• Big oil reserves
• The third mineral reserve in the world
• 106 million Mexican people with a lot of energy
  to become a sustainable country

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Political situation
8
Social situation Population growth

• 106 million Mexicans
• 80 living in cities
• 35 young people

9
Social situation

• Reduction in poverty levels in the past 5 years,
  due to social programmes focused on 250 micro
  regions.
• Integration of environmental factors in national
  development and poverty reduction strategies
  remains weak.
• Continuity of social programmes is urgent and new
  market opportunities are essential to promote
  sustainable programmes such as Ecotourism,
  organic agriculture and environmental services.

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Water availability, Development and Distribution
of population
1 951 m3/hab/year
The natural availability of water per capita in
the south east is seven times larger than in
central and north Mexico
National Media 4 685 m3/hab/year
14 006 m3/hab/year
Water capturing
Population
GNP
Fuente CNA
11
Economic situation

• Main economic activities.
• Oil industry
• Tourism
• Industry
• Agriculture
• Trade

12
Environmental situation
13
Environmental Problems that affect Mexico
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• Opportunities

• National level
• For the first time the National Development Plan
  2001-2006, includes sustainability.
• Education- awareness
• Mainstreaming sustainable development in public
  policies
• Sustainable agriculture
• Sustainable tourism and ecotourism
• Environmental services and CDM
• Legal framework

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International cooperation framework

• Millennium Goals
• The Decade for Education for Sustainable
  Development
• National Commitment for Education for Sustainable
  Development with a National Strategy.
• Earth Charter
• Kyoto Protocol- CDM
• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Ramsar
• Green markets and fair trade
• Free trade agreements with North America, Europe
  and Japan

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National Environmental Programmes

• Hydraulic Program
• National Forest Program
• Environmental Justice Administration Program
• National Commission of Protected Areas(12 of
  the territory)
• National Crusades
• Forests and Water
• Clean up Mexico
• Strategic Programs
• Stop and reverse pollution of air and water
• Stop an reverse the loss of the natural capital
• Preserve ecosystems and their biodiversity
• Promote a sustainable development in the Federal
  government.

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National Environmental Programmes

• Regional and multi sectorial programs
• Northern border program Border 2012
• Strategic program for the South-Southeast
• Program of the Sea of Cortes
• Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
• Special programs
• Indigenous people
• Equity of gender
• Youth program GEO Mexico and Youth and
  Sustainable Consumption
• National Strategy for Climate Action
• National Commission for Sustainable Development

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Regarding Climate Change

• The preparation of the National Strategy for
  Climate Action should be completed fairly soon
  (before the end of the Administration).
• It includes and assesses measures for mitigation
  of greenhouse gases in the most relevant sectors
  and will start exploring some adaptation options.
• 3rd. National Communication underway.
• It includes several studies, updating of national
  GHG inventory, evaluation of mitigation
  strategies, a look into adaptation.
• Capacity has increased significantly, in great
  part thanks to bilateral collaboration.
• We have established cooperation links with
  several national and international institutions.

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Youth and sustainable consumption
The partnership consists of a platform for
capacity building on sustainable consumption for
youth organizations, schools, local authorities
and consumer organizations

• Participants.
• PNUMA/ORPALC
• Mexican Youth Institute
• PROFECO CECADESU/SEMARNAT

Results. Until in Sept. 2002 Web-site youthxchang
e training kit Interactive CD, Guide. 32 000
young people
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Recent Event

• Local actions for a global challenge
• 4th World Water Forum
• March 16-22, 2006. Mexico
• Thematic Forum
• Ministerial Conference
• Water Fair
• World Water Expo
• Prizes
• Youth Forum
• Web http//www.worldwaterforum4.org.mx/

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Semarnat Publications
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Challenges for the present and the future

• To succeed in protecting and conserving the
  ecosystems, species and genes most threatened
  within the country.
• To stop and reverse pollution of water, air and
  soil, erosion and deforestation processes.
• To guarantee the inclusion of the environmental
  variable as a State policy within the national
  life activities (government, companies, society).
  
• To promote the sustainable use of natural
  resources (including an efficient use of water
  and electric power).
• To promote a comprehensive and decentralized
  environmental management.
• Increase environmental education and research.

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Challenges for the present and the future

• Improvement of national polices and instruments
  for sustainability.
• Professional civil service.
• Increase financing for the environment.
• Continuity of management programmes in Natural
  Protected Areas
• Restoration of soils and watersheds.
• Strengthening of Policies and instruments for
  better integrating global environmental
  objectives on the national level.
• Monitoring and evaluation of progress.
• Political, social and financial stability for
  sustainability.
• Strengthening capacities to promote green markets
  and CDM.
• Continuity of successful programmes.

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Climate Change - Challenges

• We still need to prioritize CC research needs
• Several CC research areas are still little
  explored
• Promoting technology development and technology
  transfer
• Road-mapping mitigation and adaptation strategies
• Broadening capacity building
• Improving the transmission of information to
  society
• Further integrating climate change into
  sustainable development

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Research Collaboration Opportunities

• SEMARNATs interdisciplinary agenda allows for
  environmental research, technology development
  and transfer, and capacity building in an
  integrated way, adequate to achieve sustainable
  development goals.
• We have ample experience in designing,
  developing, coordinating, and evaluating projects
  and research studies, often involving
  collaboration with other institutions.
• We makes sure to put to the best use the results
  of these projects, to inform society and decision
  making.

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Viva la Vida!
Thank You!
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Cecadesu
Centre for Training and Education for Sustainable
Development Mexican Ministry of the Environment
and Natural Resources
Tiahoga Ruge General Coordinator Av. Progreso 3,
planta alta Col. Del Carmen Coyoacan C. P. 41010,
México City, MEXICO Tel. [phone] Fax
52 (55) 5658 3381 E-mail tiahoga_at_semarnat.gob
.mx
Web http//cecadesu.semarnat.gob.mx