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The objective of this paper is to start from the political ecology and the philosophy of the liberation, to present a critique to the Agreements of Climatic Change in Paris 2015, given the little or null effectiveness of the environmental policies that are proposed. For this purpose, a critical theoretical essay was carried out on the current capitalist model and its conflicts regarding sustainable development. The methodology used is a critical test to the production-technology contradiction that capitalism poses to civilization and humanity. The results indicate that there are conflicts between the environmental policies specified in said signed climate change agreement, based on their effectiveness for humanity and nature, such as an expanded reproduction of capital vs. life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to make a contribution to environmental arrangement of the livestock potential in the municipality of Jimaguayú, Camagüey, Cuba. The indicators, restrictions, categories and conflicts of livestock potential in the region were identified and located on a map. Additionally, the policies, guidelines, regulations, and standards for proper environmental management in each livestock raising area were determined. The study concluded that the potential of livestock raising depends on the environmental use recommended as principal in eight of the seventeen secondary environmental areas that make up the region; one of them was considered for secondary use. In terms of categories, the municipality comprises 126.9 km2 with inexistent livestock potential, including several settlements and water reservoirs; 115.7 km2 showed a poor potential; 316.3 km2 had a mid-potential; and 225.4 km2 was high. The previous contributed to proper environmental arrangement of livestock potential in the municipality of Jimaguayú, Camagüey. In accordance with it, restrictions, indicators, categories and conflicts observed in the sector were determined to make recommendations for development in the secondary environmental areas with some potential. This study was also useful to set up policies, as well as general and specific guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective is to analyze the current problems and the environmental impacts of the Brazilian energy matrix and some alternatives for diversification. The methodology used was the bibliographical and documentary research in national and foreign authors, as well as technical studies and other fields of knowledge beyond legal, because of the transdisciplinary nature of the subject. The paper results understand that the Brazilian energy basis is not sustainable and that the decision-makers and the society shall implement an energy transition to alternative renewable energy sources and also need public policies to diminish consumption. There must not be one single choice of source, but decide based on determining the impacts from renewables and on evaluating its pros and cos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to describe the results of a study on social representations of climate change in a sample of 105 students from the National Pedagogical University (Mexico). Work was carried out using associative cards, with free association of words from a stimulus word, a questionnaire with open-ended and closed-ended questions, and qualitative interviews that drew on climate change-related images shown to subjects. The results show that university students hold social representations of climate change that include content that is hegemonic (mainly relating to the effects of climate change and ways to address it in education), emancipated (integrating issues relating to causes), and polemical (they feature emotional aspects associated with the phenomenon). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to emphasize the importance of risk communication as an emerging discipline that, in the face of climate change, analyzes the global environmental crises caused by the current model of economic development. The case ofthe Baja Basin of the Pánuco River, which covers southern Tamaulipas and northern Veracruz, Mexico, is subject to major transformations that have substantially modified the regional coastal ecosystem, making the population more vulnerable to natural phenomena, Before which it is necessary to develop a culture of risk communication as an organized system that integrates the different local actors so that its implementation and follow-up is carried out with opportunity and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echinoids play an important role in marine ecosystems structuring. Often, their population density experience markedly fluctuations that promote a state shift in the ecosystems they inhabit. Population increments of some sea urchins may cause catastrophic changes in temperate areas of the planet by decimating the erect macroalgae cover. These population increments results in unproductive and very stable assemblages, known as "blanquizales" (ericeras/moradales), or sea urchin barren ground. Macroalgae are the main ecosystem engineers in temperate areas and generate a suitable nursery and feeding habitat for fishes. These algae stands are also important zones for biofiltration of coastal waters and CO2 uptake. The main consequence of vegetated biomass lost is a trophic disequilibrium that generates important economic losses for artisanal fisheries and tourism. In tropical areas, sea urchin's outbreaks can cause bioerosion in coral reefs. However, the most important event to highlight was the mass mortality occurred in the Caribbean during the 80's. This event favored the development of algae communities that suffocated the coral reef ecosystem. Therefore, both in temperate and tropical areas of the planet, these boom-bust echinoids generate undesired ecosystems states. Very recently, various global scale collaborative papers have highlighted a clear anthropogenic cue. Human activity though overfishing or favoring global warming, weakens marine ecosystem resilience and promote these catastrophic ecosystem shifts. To mitigate the effects of these population changes different management strategies have been used. For instance, in temperate areas, sea urchin reduction actions (manually or by using quick lime), sea urchin harvesting or the implementation of marine reserves have been used, with contrasting results. In Caribbean coral reefs affected by urchin mass mortality, some sea urchin juvenile's reintroduction plans have been used but with very low effectiveness. The more feasible ecosystem scale strategy due to its preventive nature, seems to be the implementation of protected areas. However, the impact of global warming will exceed our capacity to manage marine ecosystems locally and will required more efficient global actions to prevent undesired sea urchin fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to make a contribution to the environmental arrangement of the livestock potential in the municipality of Jimaguayú, Camagüey, Cuba. The indicators restrictions, categories, and conflicts of the livestock potential in the region were identified and located on a map. Additionally, the policies, guidelines, regulations and standards for proper environmental management in each livestock area were determined. The study concluded that the potential of livestock activity consists in environmentally recommended use in the main eight of the seventeen secondary environmental areas that make up the region. One of them was considered for secondary use. In terms of categories, the municipality comprises 126.9 km2 with inexistent livestock potential, including several settlements and water reservoirs; 115.7 km2 were identified as poor potential; 316.3 km2 had a mid-potential; and 225.4 km2 was high. The previous contributed to the environmental arrangement of the livestock potential in the municipality of Jimaguayú, Camagüey. Accordingly, the restrictions, indicators, categories, and conflicts observed in the sector were determined, to be used as recommendations for development in the secondary environmental areas with some potential, as well as to set up policies, and general and specific guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the search for natural resources has reconfigured the geopolitical map through new political-economic alliances. Regional studies identify the South American continent as the scene for a potential trade dispute between two poles: the emerging BRICS and the old industrialized countries. The Colombian region known as the highland plains is the epicenter of new economic investments by domestic and international stakeholders who have the intention of developing agribusiness projects, among which promote the biofuels production at the center of the climate change debate. This paper presents research results on the topic of the Territorial Vulnerability Index, bringing to light some of the knots encountered and that legitimize material transformations alongside discursive productions that shape and design the territory. Part of this paper was presented at the I Seminario Internacional Novas Territorialidades e Desenvolvimento Sustentavel, held in Brazil in 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a descriptive and evaluative analysis of the productive and environmental of SPSi with Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, emphasizing the nutritional quality, biomass production, voluntary intake, animal productivity and greenhouse gas emission aspects. For such purpose, a bibliographic review was made about the studies in the last 15 years, concerning animal production systems under tropical conditions, stressing the ones conducted in Colombia. It was noticed that the forage offer in SPSi with leucaena has a protein content higher than 22 % and a lower fiber content (20-30 %) with regards to most tropical pastures. Additionally, leucaena has the capacity to withstand intense browsing, and its presence increases plant and animal productivity. The animals produce at least two or three times more meat and milk ha-1 year-1 as the result of a higher nutrient intake and higher forage offer, because with this legume the dry matter (DM) intake can be 1,3 times higher than the one observed in conventional systems, and the forage production can be from 5 to 18 t DM ha-1. On the other hand, the inclusion of L. leucocephala allows to decrease the enteric emissions of CH4 in amounts close to 20 % per kilogram of produced meat or milk and per kilogram of consumed dry matter. Compared with the traditional systems, in the ones in which L. leucocephala is included, the efficiency in production is increased and the negative environmental effects of animal husbandry are decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the accumulated experiences in the design and implementation of strategies, policies and regulations to promote the development of the renewable energy sources, as well as the increase of the participation in the national energetic balances with different aims. Among these aims we stress the decrease of the dependence on the use of energy fossil sources (which are generally imported), mitigation of emission of greenhouse effect gases and reduction of the local pollution levels, particularly in soils, air and waters associated to great human concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean acidification is a growing problem that affects global environment. Its effects are detectable now, putting the most extensive water resource on the planet at risk and influencing the climate changes that can be documented across the globe. This paper analyzes the protection of the sea as a measure to ensure a healthy environment for future generations, guaranteeing a better way of life for them. We present the different principles governing bioethics, and we establish their relationship with the processes of sustainable development and the increase of acidification in the ocean, which affects a large number of communities of scarce resources in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether there is a significant correlation between energy subsidies in Mexico and some dimensions of sustainable development. In this sense are analyzed the CO2 emissions, subsidies per capita energy sector, the annual growth rate of gdp, electricity consumption per capita and the production of equivalent fossil fuel energy. This research has been between the 2004-2010 period in the recent history of that country. Finally the results are studied and also are established different recommendations related to energy policy and even are presented some possible future research lines in this entire topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental goods and services (egs) are a thriving market that emerged in the 1990s as a result of international agreements to curb environmental degradation and climate change. What started as a struggle between environmental advocates and trade advocates paved the way for negotiation between two closely interconnected international regimes: climate change and trade. The current international debate on the egs market focuses, on the one hand, on pointing to the poor role that this activity has played in curbing the deterioration of the environment. On the other hand, in the important economic success that the commerce of this type of products is having. Today, the economic spill of the egs trade is just over two trillion dollars and is expected to increase. Australia, Canada, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand,Singapore and the United States are among the 17 most prosperous economies of this type of market. The supremacy in the international competitiveness of the Asia Pacific Rim over this niche provides elements to expect a relative decrease in environmental impact, because this region emits 63% of all greenhouse gases (ghs) that are generated on the planet. This paper analyzes the importance of the bsa market in a world whose main challenge should be to solve environmental deterioration. However, quantitative data to measure environmental deterioration and economic prosperity show that, at least, in the short term, the environment has not benefited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflection from the EU perspective on the Commission's white paper on how to harness globalization. The definition of the European policy to globalization process must elaborate on three figures: 1) EU's population represents 7% of the world population; 2) is the 1st trade partner with the 23% of the world trade; y 3) and represents 50% of social spending. It is important the defense of the imperfect trade order based on rules in order to advance to consolidate it not to dismantle it. EU must count with its own forces after the sharp protectionist move of the USA, architect of the world trade order since the end of the 2nd WW accompanied with the Brexit. The responsibility of the EU to lead a globalization taking into account social rights and the fight against climatic change is reinforced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the point of view of tourism, scientific knowledge of the alterations in climate and consequent sector impacts is set up as a key issue for the development of policies for adaptation and mitigation of climate change. However, all this is insufficient unless it is accompanied by the knowledge of public attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of risk showing the different stakeholders. This paper explores, based on a mixed methodology that it includes quantitative and qualitative approach, the perception of risk associated with climate change that present key actors in rural tourism. The proposed approach has allowed knowing how the impacts of climate change, its potential impacts on rural tourism businesses and local adaptation responses developed so far are perceived. Research has also enabled to detect subjective barriers to the adaptation actions that could hinder the fight against the phenomenon. From a geographical point of view, research is focused in Alt Empordà, a Catalan small region located in the northeast of the well-known Costa Brava tourism brand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following paper presents the analysis of meteorological variables that could indicate a possible effect of climate change in the City of Puebla; The study was generated with data from February 2015 to December 2016, wich were downloaded from the meteorological station, located in University City, Central Campus of the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma of Puebla. For the analysis of these variables the Morlet mathematical method was applied within the ION-Wavelets Model; the data processed served as a hypothetical refer-ence to correlate the effect of the "El Niño" phenomenon (possibly the bigest cause of climatic changes in the last years) in the City of Puebla. The mapping of the study with the Surfer program of each of the processed variables was performed: Maximun and Minimum Temperature, Solar Radiation and Humidity. This was done in order to compare the meteorological changes, as well as to generate the statistics of possible changes in the climate during the analyzed period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some of the main arguments related to the use of alternative technologies for generation of electrical energy that have been developed as part of the global climate change mitigation mechanisms. The article focuses on the market of products for generation of solar energy that has had a huge expansion in recent years and, since the People's Republic of China (China) has managed to control large segments of the international market of components and products for generation of solar energy, it has been immersed in commercial disputes. Climate change (cc) is associated with the greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions which are generated in the combustion process; their mitigation becomes a core part of the energy security of the countries with the generation of energy with lower environmental impact resolving, in part, the expansion of the energy demand. The main conclusion in this text is that, in general, the electric energy generated with alternative technologies has created an economic and commercial space of intense competition which translates to new businesses with a bioethical justification associated to the protection of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioeconomy suggests transforming economic systems in economies based on the use of biomass, this is a recent proposal within the so-called green economy and is intended to overcome dependence on fossil resources and offer solutions to global problems such as scarcity Food, energy supply and climate change. This paper aims to identify strengths (qualified human resources, infrastructure, investment in R & D) in Latin American countries so that through knowledge- based bioeconomics they can move towards Green economy. For this, a multivariate cluster analysis based on socio-economic, environmental and scientific-technological indicators is carried out to compare the different capacities of the countries in that region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with coastal aquifers exploitation under saline intrusion threats and climate change effects over them. For sustainable development of these resources variable but necessary policies are required, among them: selection of abstraction works and their appropriate design, knowledge of the aquifer system, control measures over variables for decision making, use of advanced technologies to define optimal exploitation strategies, efficient operation and maintenance of existing works. It is suggested, when feasible, to give preferential use to horizontal works but avoiding open trenches because of the inconveniences that have been observed in the Cayo Largo del Sur and Andros-Bahamas case studies. The use of vertical wells demands a careful design, not only of each well but also of their spatial distribution, therefore the paper includes some recomendations to this end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes us beyond the present economic crisis to where global warming warns of a much more profound problem: a structural flaw in capitalism. Theoretically linking relations between climate change, colonialism, and capitalism, San Lorenzo is investigated as an agricultural frontier where "CO2lonialism" unfolds in African oil palm cultivation and agrofuel production. This re s e a rch highlights the cultural and spatial practices through which Afro - Ecuadorian, Chachi and Awá communities construct and sustain "geographies of hope" amid landscapes of fallen forests, poisoned rivers and social conflicts. Expounding on the ecological debt of the Global No rth to the Global South, this paper condemns discourses and actions that solely focus on improving the economic climate while bulldozing rainforests, livelihoods, and real solutions to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper was first presented on November 12th, 2015, during the First UNED Encounter: Management, Climate Change and Social Participation; specifically at the Unofficial Perspectives: Paradigmatic Challenges and Community Proposals panel, organized by the Research Center on Culture and Development (CICDE, for its acronym in Spanish). Given that 2016 was declared by the National Council of Rectors (CONARE, for its acronym in Spanish) as the year of Public Universities for Mother Nature, the Journal Rupturas considers it relevant to publish this document in its section: Annotations on the Juncture, while preserving the style of the author. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a summarize of Q.96 from the XXV International Congress on Large Dams in Stavanger about "Innovation in the use of dams and reservoirs", analyzing the general reporter speech and the papers selected for oral presentation, placing particular emphasis on those presented by Spanish engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) is a body created within the United Nations system in charge of the elaboration of reports in support of the different governments on matters related to Climate Change, its impacts and the adaptation and mitigation strategies. The paper analyses the background and reasons that lead to the creation of the IPCC, the main milestones in its lifetime and describes how it works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) is a current issue. It would appear that TMCF had an extended tradition in ecological research, but it is only during the last 20 years that it has been intensively studied. The last 10 years have seen an impressive development in ecological knowledge and the emergence of several research lines. The objective of this paper is to present a review of the TMCF ecological research published in 1995-2014 to have a retrospective, a current view and a glimpse of future studies in Mexico and, particularly, in the state of Veracruz. Biodiversity and disturbance have been the most addressed issues in TMCF. In the last decade, following disturbance and habitat loss of the TMCF, more applied topics such as ecological restoration and ecosystem services have been consolidated. Forthcoming topics will be relating forest resilience with forest processes, components and climate change effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic change effects and the processes of urban growth caused environmental deterioration in the city of Buenos Aires. This situation alters the natural hydrological cycle and the hydrograph of floodwaters in urbanizing watersheds will modify, presenting flows higher peak and shorter rise times as it progresses. On the other hand, the global warming has caused an increase in mean annual precipitation and extreme values generated by storms of connective type, in the central region and North of Argentina. One of the possibilities to mitigate these effects is the implementation of extensive green roofs systems in terraces of buildings and houses built that help to reduce runoff factor. The objective of this paper was: to determine the reduction of surface runoff and water quality delivered for different types of green roofs with different types of vegetation implanted in normal rainfall in the city of Buenos Aires. The results of the study that was carried out along one year, showed that the retention capacity of the tested lots varied, depending upon precipitation, type of vegetation and coverage. For the range of 21 and 41 mm the retention ratesreached between 63% and 68%, with rainfall between 42 and 60 mm are observed percentages of retention from 31% to 39%. For the range of 61 to 80 mm the retention percentage was similarly to the range previously analyzed, 25% to 38%, and finally analyzing rainfall greater than 90 mm, the percentage of retention varies between 16% and 22%. The Aptenia cordifolia presented minors values of retention in all ranges except the first. The results of the test showed that green roofs system represent a good alternative in the integrated management of water runoff in urban watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the tropical Andes, the mountain treeline corresponds to a complex transition zone between páramo forests and páramos. In the lower limit of this ecotone there is a more or less gradual transition between mountain cloud forests and páramo forests. Land planning in these ecosystems has become a highly topical subject given the growing threat for conservation generated by agricultural and mining activities. In this paper we review the research carried out in the Cordillera de Mérida (Venezuela) on the changes in vegetation structure, diversity and response to disturbance along the forest-páramo transition zone. The results of these studies document the high species and life form richness which characterize the ecotone vegetation, as well as a high rate of species turnover (beta diversity) along the elevation gradient. Studies on elevation changes in vegetation successional dynamics in plots disturbed by agriculture at different altitudes along the transition zone indicate that forest woody species have a lower capacity to colonize disturbed areas than dominant páramo species, a process that results in forests patches with a paramo physiognomy. On the basis of the available evidence, the structural elements that could be used for delimiting the different ecosystems present along transition zone are discussed, emphasizing the need to design conservation and restoration strategies which interpret the forest-páramo ecotone as a dynamic and integrated system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this analysis is to reflect on more sustainable family and extensive integrated livestock production models, in which the woody component is integrated, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases and favoring the mitigation of the climate change. For such purpose, a revision was made referring to the integration of the forestry activity in livestock production, as a viable alternative of production system. A start is made from the criterion that silvopastoral systems (SPSs), within the agroforestry ones, are agroecosystems in which a tree component is associated with a herbaceous (natural or improved pastures) and a farming component (livestock) in the same site, where biological interactions exist among them and land use is maximized. This paper also describes how SPSs are grouped; their opportunities from the economic, productive, social and environmental points of view; and the effects of the interaction among its components. This analysis allows to state that SPSs are a product of the relation among biology, society and culture, and in them there is a large diversity; likewise, they allow the reconversion of the very little productive extensive livestock production into more productive and sustainable systems, as well as the rehabilitation of the areas degraded by this type of livestock production, deforestation and soil depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air Conditioning with renewable energy is a key issue in the region's energy policy. The high temperatures usually attributed to climate change and the increase of the standard of living in society continues increasing energy demand in order to establish the conditions for thermal comfort in buildings. Solar air conditioning, although it contains a mature technology, its level of market introduction and acceptance by designers of buildings is exhaustive. This paper discusses the feasibility of these projects, identifies non-technological type barriers that hinders such use and implementation of solar energy for air conditioning systems, and finally, it approaches some criteria and recommendations to overcome these obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper analyzes the main more indexed divergent elements among three of the integrated assessment models in the literature about climate change: the RICE (Regional Dynamic Integrated model of Climate and the Economy), the FUND (Climate Framework for Uncertainty, Negotiation and Distribution) and the PAGE (Policy Analysis of the Greenhouse Effect). The research shows how each one of them approaches core topics of the integrated assessment of the climate change (the adaptation, the impacts, the uncertainty, the extreme events and discontinuities) from different edges and points of view, arriving to a heterogeneity in the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All disasters are said to follow a cyclical pattern referred to as the disaster cycle. The cycle is an overall view of stages within a continual loop of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Disaster preparedness is one of the stages of the disaster management cycle guided in a manner that adequately protects communities. It involves the identification of potential hazards and vulnerabilities through risk assessments, forecast development and warning systems, modelling and training for a number of disaster scenarios of different hazards and at different magnitudes, development of insurance infrastructure and the growth of an intelligent community. The energy sector dominates in the UAE and consists of various assets - electricity, oil and natural gas that are geographically dispersed and connected by systems and networks. The protection of these systems and assets and within the energy sector especially, the safeguarding of oil and gas infrastructure from any and all internal and external threats should become top priority in the UAE. Threats to geopolitical and economic stability that need to be considered and prepared to include tectonic activity, climate change, nuclear energy, terrorism and war. This paper discusses the current level of resilience in the Emirati energy sector and what can be done to improve it. The secondary data was taken from various academic and professional sources whilst the primary data, which constitutes 35 questionnaires with both qualitative and quantitative data, were collected on site at two electricity generating plants, one in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper presents a methodology for the analysis of vulnerability of water supply sources with regional results (Popayan and Cajibío), considering the following points: 1) incorporation of relevant indicators of municipal water supply sources, 2) Local knowledge on perception, and identification of climate related problems, 3) mathematical procedures and adjust the algorithm for calculating the vulnerability and 4) coordination with territorial planning instruments. As a result, the vulnerability in the current scenario of the Rio Las Piedras subbasin (Popayán) is medium low (0.42) product generated by adaptive capacity developed synergistic processes between local actors; in contrast, the basin of the river Michicao (Cajibio) has a high average vulnerability (0.54) due to social dislocation, low institutional presence and zero environmental investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of water resources could be affected by climate change and with it the degree with which the demands are met. To assess the degree with which the demands are met, indicators that allow identifying water scarcity problems are frequently used. These indicators have been generally developed for hydrological planning analyses in the short and medium term where the effects of climate change are not relevant. Therefore, the capability of the indicators: demand-satisfaction index (I1) and demand-reliability index (I2) in this paper it is analyzed. These indicators were developed to be uses in the short term, and here we focus on their use in systems exposed to climate change (long term conditions). This analysis was performed through the application of these indicators in three Spanish basins (Guadalquivir, Duero and Ebro) and under several reduction levels of the streamflows due to climate change. It was determined that I2 is not capable of capturing the effects of the variability of such streamflows. A new indicator Ip3 was identified, so that keeping the same criteria as I2 to its determination, it is capable of determining the best level with which the demands should be met taking into account the variability of the streamflows. This new indicator was selected out of three proposed indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we make a critical assessment of the main motivations for the development, use and policymaking of biofuels through state of the art studio. From this it shows that the expected expansion in biofuels through state of the art studio. From this it shows that the expected expansion in biofuels production is due to benefits they offer, as a contribution to mitigating climate change and reducing global dependence on scarce and uncertain oil supplies and on the other hand, helps to reduce oil prices. Also there are a number of motivations that drive the search for alternative energy sources, within which biofuels production holds great interest today, these are grouped in three areas: environmental, economic and political, and of social nature. Among them are identified as key environmental pollution, demand and energy security reasons. To these positive elements are opposed a number of difficulties in the development and use of biofuels. Among them are those related to the availability and sustainable supply of feedstock, limiting properties and others that change over time, there are many users who are not familiar with them. Considering that the major fraction of the costs in biomass power generation originates from logistics operations, these systems have to be located near the source of biomass and hence be decentralized. The size depends among other factors on the availability of biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to analyze the advantages of silvopastoral systems in animal feeding due to their potential, their high nutritional value, as well as because of the results obtained in the contribution to the adaptation and mitigation of the climate change. In this sense, the performance of the following important indicators is mentioned: soil care and action of the edaphic biota, management of plant genetic resources with diversity and functionality, pest and disease integrated management and efficient water management, carbon sequestration, effect of the foliage of different species on the metanogenic bacteria in ruminants, the importance of milk composition and its derivatives; in addition, the combination food-energy production, as contribution to the adaptation and mitigation, is analyzed. In farms that integrate agriculture and livestock production, the development of systems including trees in grazing, either for forage or for energy production (forage ligneous plants and biofuel producing plants, due to their importance in the energy subsystem within the supply chain) means a challenge for food selfsufficiency, to regulate the solar energy that has incidence on the soil surface, with a protective effect on the system's temperature, in areas which were previously dedicated only to milk and meat production or to agricultural crops. With these practices, the investment in imports is lower, allowing higher technical productive, economic, social and environmental efficiency to the productive scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to verify if there is any effect in the income distribution for the Mexican economy when applying a tax on fossil fuels in order to reduce CO2 emissions. In order to reach this goal a computable general equilibrium model was built following the Shoven and Whalley method. It is observed that the application of a tax achieves a reduction in fossil fuel demand, but it does not have any meaningful consequence on the income redistribution of the society. All the levels of the economy have a loss in welfare as a consequence of the application of this tax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the main findings regarding the climate change perspective in the department of Antioquia. For measuring it, means such as surveys, interviews, and a focus group were used with parties related to academia, the government, and the authorities of Antioquia. The results show that, in Antioquia, there are still gaps to be filled, and few, or little known, commitments for prevention; deficient institutional presence, and little interest from the local government for actions derived from the issue of regulations, and tools for adaptation to climate change to be implemented effectively. Likewise, there is little planning and connection between initiatives and the means for management in the territory. The parties surveyed agree that the most vulnerable sectors in the face of climate change, from an economic viewpoint, are the production units in the livestock, agricultural and energetic fields. From a social point of view, the main problem is what geomorphologic conditions generate, and, from an environmental point of view, the loss of biodiversity. Finally, education is viewed as the main instrument and tool for knowing and approaching the essence of climate change, as well as the implications that it can have for society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to develop an analysis of mitigation and adaptation strategies in the transport sector in the city of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. Based on the methodology of the Programs of Action on Climate Change (PACC), we analyzed the Mexicali emissions inventory and generated a diagnosis. Once we analyzed the current situation, we studied mitigation strategies such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the smog check, new importation legislation for used cars, biofuel production, the promotion of loweremission vehicles and urban planning. On adaptation strategies vehicle recycling and the use of non-moto-rized transport were studied as an alternative of sustainable mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, one of the main global risks humankind is currently facing, became a relevant issue on the international agenda in the last few decades. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), adopted in 1992, includes both mitigation and adaptation strategies; however, though both are considered equally important, adaptation has been historically relegated to a secondary role within the Convention. The paper first presents an overview of the trajectory of adaptation as a UNFCCC guideline, discusses its institutional evolution and the Convention’s financing mechanisms, and, finally, explores the relations between adaptation and development. The conclusions point to the insufficiency of the Convention with respect to the implementation of measures for adaptation to climate change, but highlight its relevant role as a scenario for debate, as a source of funding, and as a promoter of both national and subnational actions, especially in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of contrasting definitions of vulnerability to climate change poses a crucial challenge for the relationship between science and public policy in the context of adaptation to climate change. After reviewing the mainstream conceptualization of vulnerability to climate change, the article criticizes the use of the risk-hazard approach as a conceptual basis for measuring that vulnerability. Using concrete examples, the article illustrates how the resulting concept of vulnerability varies profoundly with respect to the type of knowledge generated and the epistemological approach depending on whether the concept of inherent vulnerability or that of outcome vulnerability is used. The paper concludes that the use of one or the other leads to public policies that are radically different in scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the reflection on the link between disaster risk management and gender equity. It is presented a case study on perceptions about climate change and institutional abilities regarding risk management in four locations of the state of Yucatan, Mexico. In order to know the local social perceptions, surveys and interviews were administered to key informants, and the results account for the existence of serious problems in municipal institutions in charge of both disaster risk management and the promotion of processes to generate greater gender equality. Additionally, a lack of knowledge about the factors that cause climate change was recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses the problem of global or international justice against the background of Rawls's Law of Peoples. The idea is to challenge Rawls' principles of international justice facing current issues of climate change at the global level, specifically in relation to the possible harm done against the territory of the Republic of Kiribati. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the rapid increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases derived from a growing social metabolism (use of energy and materials), the implementation of diverse technologies, including those designed to manipulate and control the weather, has been proposed as a potential solution. This paper reviews the prevailing social metabolism and its projections for the coming decades. Subsequently, the problems and challenges of climate change, its implications and the technological solutions based on weather manipulation proposed from a political discourse that advocates for a "green economy" are discussed. By describing the geoengineering proposals, their complexity, feasibility, uncertainties and potential implications are then critically reviewed. Recognizing that the use of geoengineering is more an issue of economics and politics than a technical matter, it is concluded with an appeal to open the debate on different implications and desirability of the diverse geoengineering options, starting from the premise that the main measure towards climate change is the effective reduction of social metabolism and, therefore, of emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current global climate conditions differ from the historical average data. In the Arid Chaco this trend is reflected in the advance of the agricultural frontier towards the east of the subregion, due partially to an increase in the precipitation. The aim of this paper is to analyze temporal changes of temperature and precipitation, and the ENSO influence over these variables. The historical series of the Arid Chaco climate were analyzed for six locations for the period 1931-2011. The results show positive trends in precipitation and average temperatures, although increasingly variable. Precipitations and temperature are inversely related, possibly as a result of the advance of cold fronts from the south, causing precipitation. Nevertheless, the linear regressions between both variables do not fit significantly (p<0,05). Changes in the location of high and low pressure centers in the subregion explain another part of the variation in mean annual temperatures and precipitation. Many of the observed climate anomalies coincide with ENSO events, although the intensity of these events have little relation with the intensity of climate anomalies in the subregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

This paper discusses the effects of climate change in agriculture and food in Latin America. In response to Maletta (2009), this essay analyze the real impacts climate change will have in the region. We suggest that global impacts in agriculture and food will be high in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of Carbon Footprint, its origin, its relation with greenhouse gases and the methods to quantify it are presented and analyzed. The so-called greenhouse effect causes that the energy that reaches the earth at a certain rate is returned to a slower rate, increasing the temperature of the earth surface. Additionally, it is nowadays accepted that this effect is produced by some gases that are naturally emitted or produced by human actions. The Carbon Footprint is considered to be one of the most important tools for quantifying greenhouse emissions and in a general form it represents the quantity of gases emitted to the atmosphere and that is produced by human activities, and by goods and service consumption. Since there is no consensus about the definition of Carbon Footprint or the forms of quantifying it, this first part of the paper series analyzes the main concept and the main present views on the Carbon Footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of historic vegetation growth curves for both grasslands and shrublands in Mexico becomes a real challenge due to lack of statistics. Remote sensing technology using satellites, allows obtaining a first approximation through vegetation indices (VI). The present study discusses an indirect parametric modeling of the biomass growth curve in individual pixels of both Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), thus allowing their characterization using pre and post process algorithms. Results obtained through application of the algorithms discussed in the present paper, allow obtaining annual growth curves at 100 ha (AHVRR) and 6.25 ha (MODIS) scales that can be used in studies on climate change and on grassland/shrubland management in Mexico. [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]