Authors

David Agren

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-27-2011

Abstract

Mexico City's Eje Central thoroughfare slices the Distrito Federal into eastern and western halves and funnels traffic from the southern suburbs into the Centro Histórico. It also is known as the zero-emissions corridor, with the original plans calling for the removal of cargo trucks and polluting public-transport vehicles known as microbuses, along with the advent of bicycle lanes and trolleybuses.The corridor is but one example of local actions undertaken by subnational jurisdictions to combat climate change, which has been an issue being addressed during the past two decades by national governments. These local actions are increasingly being carried out in places such as Mexico City during an era when the threat of climate change is pressing but national governments have been unable to achieve significant international agreements.The trend of cities taking local actions is expected to increase--and come independently from the policies implemented by national governments or the timetables outlined by international agreements. This trend might even reshape political and economic power dynamics in the coming decades as local governments take the policy lead on climate change and exert demands for resources from national governments lagging behind on the issue. Mexico City is one such local jurisdiction taking the lead on climate change.

Language

English

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