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The concept, and implementation, of coordinated global climate governance at the metropolitan level is one of the biggest challenges in most of the world's cities. Yet--ironically--it is also one of the most overlooked aspects of the international environmental agenda. Specifi- cally, one of the main challenges is to achieve coordination in decision making, as well as in the implementation of actions to homologate the objectives of the different government agendas at all levels, i.e. the constitution of climate and environmental policies not only at the federal level but also at the state and municipal level (in the Mexican case). This article reviews the link achieved between the nine municipal governments that make up the metropolitan area of Guadalajara (AMG) through PACmetro, which promotes coordinated climate governance and addresses the gaps in international mechanisms for climate change policies. The above, generated through the synergies of different agendas, through the Institute for Development Planning and Management (Imeplan). Imeplan has integrated different actors, from different levels, to carry out coordinated actions on urban climate policies in western Mexico that contribute to the construction of a common urban agenda. The conclusion shows the contributions of Latin American local governments to a coordinated climate governance according to local contexts and how the will of cities contributes to the strengthening of the link between global climate governance, the exercise of paradiplomacy between different public, private and hybrid actors towards a common urban agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Green New Deal has been defined as "an unprecedented mobilization of resources to achieve 100% renewable energy to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions" (NEF, 2019, p.4). Currently there is consensus about its purpose, however, little has been theorized about its establishment in Colombia. In this sense, our objective is to identify the institutional changes required to establish a Green New Deal in Colombia, using a Delphi methodology, appropriate for interviewing experts. As a result of this research, it was found that, of the twelve useful public policies for their establishment identified in the theoretical framework, seven comply with the guidelines for assessing environmental policy instruments proposed by Labandeira et al. (2007) and therefore are considered necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Payments for environmental services (pes) have been ratified as the preferred, unidirectional mechanism in decision-making for biodiversity management in Colombia, now regulated with Decree 0870. This happens in a local context where principles of participation and inclusion play as a major governance trend. This article discusses inertial use of pes in the current formal environmental Colombian institutions. It is proposed to harmonically include territorial contexts in pes adaptation and implementation, in order to consolidate inclusive and long term biodiversity governance. This, through a four points approach (4C): conceptualization (what and what for), Complementarity (how), Context (where) and collective construction (with whom and for whom). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colombia has increasingly been specializing in the extraction of mineral and energy resources such as gold, coal, oil and ferronickel. These activities, in the context of state weakness, have engendered conflžicts of different dimensions. This paper proposes an indicator of conflžict related to mineral exploitation that classifies five dimensions of conžflict: social, economic, cultural, political and environmental. The aggregate indicator shows that murders, displacement of Afrodescendent populations, žflooding, pollution, fires, infant mortality, coca crops and sexual offenses are highly and positively correlated with the number of conflžicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the environmental industries of Mexico and the United States Within the framework of the North American Free Trade NAFTA where Mexican industry lags behind lack of funds due to recurring economic crises. Should this situation not be overcome, the benefits of foreign trade for the Mexican environmental industry will remain low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between the abiotic and biotic components of topsoil and subsoil provide different ecosystem services key to human wellbeing. However, in many cases mining activity avoids the ecological structure as an opportunity and tool to strengthen land use planning strategies, resulting in socioenvironmental conflicts. This situation makes evident the need to take actions to define and harmonize the different instruments on land use planning, in order to take actions for the conservation, restoration, knowledge, sustainable use and risk management of biodiversity and ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the Chinese, man is an integral part of the cosmos and for this reason it is very important to emphasise the harmony which must exist between human beings and nature. However, in order to survive, the Chinese have altered the environment, putting enormous pressure on natural resources. To see the extraordinary results of economic growth in the last few years is to see the effects it has had on the environment. It also raises questions about the government's capacity and willingness to take effective action to slow down the impacts which this development has had on nature [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The guidelines of the current national environmental policy emphasise the promotion and sustainable use of environmental goods and services. At the international level this issue has been discussed in the World Trade Organization due to the Doha Ministerial Declaration (2001). Furthermore, the topic is implicit in the present development agenda. The debate has revolved around reaching an agreement about the criterion and definitions of environmental goods and services for trade purposes. A restricted perspective about these items have prevailed the current discussion that excludes holistic approaches of the environmental economy. Goods and services related to biodiversity and ecosystems that may interest 'megadiverse' countries such as Colombia are not at the centre of the discussion. The absence of or a passive role in this debate entails the loss of benefits and opportunities for the sustainable use of natural resources which in turn is contradictory with the present environmental policy. In addition, the outcomes achieved at the WTO will have repercussions in other bilateral or regional trade agreements accorded by the country and the degree of autonomy over the control of strategic natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]