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In social sciences, the Delphi method is regarded as a valid and effective tool to gather information about a subject where there is scarce evidence or little agreement. It can be an important research technique to use in institutional evaluations, specifically to analyze the institutional capability of local governments interested in tacking "new" problems. The aim of this paper is to show how the Delphi method can be used in a study of the institutional capability of local governments dealing with climatic change (CC). First, the challenges of analyzing the institutional capability of local governments are presented, followed by an exposition of some characteristics of the Delphi method and its application to institutional capability analysis; the advantages of combining this technique with that of principal component analysis are shown last. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental change are social and cultural dynamics that show us the possibility to build different relationships with the environment. In this paper we propose to discuss how the hegemony of rational thought that has made nature an object domain is a counterbalance in the history of the Red Hñahñu. While reviewing the concrete work done by some indigenous communities as Hñahñu, our endeavor is to show some imaginary social meanings that constitute forms of subjectivity of these indigenous groups that direct their speeches and actions on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

World histor y is full of conflicts caused by the scarcity of natural resources: gold, diamonds and oil. However, the water that has not previously been considered a source of conflict, with the climate change it becomes "the blue gold" of this century. This paper analyzes the risks of water shortage worldwide, particularly in Latin America, which despite its abundant resources, is facing scarcity of this element. The population growth, inappropriate management policies, lack of innovative technology and corruption aggravate the situation, putting in danger the development of the Latin American region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to explore alternative institutional ways to approach the public strategies for the attention of the meteorological events that occur frequently in Mexico. In the context of a growing presence of such events in the country associated with climate change, increased resilience relates to the identification and correction of the vulnerability of those areas susceptible to such threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current context of economic and environmental crisis, the question for developing countries, whether it is better to think about adapting or mitigating climate change. Of the more than 24 million metric tons of C02 emitted in the world, Mexico contributes only 1.6%, although this figure is relatively small is important to devise strategies to tackle the problem of climate change, considering participation of key stakeholders such as government, private sector and civil society, through the design of environmental policies and concrete actions from private enterprise. The target of this paper is to explain how from the private sector itself emerging alternatives for adapting to climate change, the trades do also contribute to the mitigation, such as the experience of industrial ecology has been given in Altamira, Tamaulipas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]