TY - JOUR
T1 - Public participation mechanisms and sustainable policy-making: a case study analysis of Mexico City’s Plan Verde
AU - Madero Mabama, Valery
AU - Morris, Nina
N1 -
Funded by MSc (first author) was funded by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT) (2010-201)
PY - 2015/11/5
Y1 - 2015/11/5
N2 - In recent years, Mexico City has gained an international reputation for its proactive and ground-breaking approach to sustainability, mainly as a result of the policies implemented by former Head of the Distrito Federal Government (2006-2012), Marcelo Ebrard. In this paper we examine the development and implementation of the Plan Verde de la Ciudad de México (Green Plan), the 15-year program through which Ebrard aimed to transform Mexico City into the most progressive and sustainable city in Latin America. One of the elements that would be integral to the plan’s success, it was claimed, would be the active participation of stakeholders from all levels of society at each stage of the process beginning with a public consultation prior to its inception. Drawing on documentary material and interviews with representatives of the Secretaría del Medio Ambiente del Distrito Federal (Ministry of Environment) and members of the Consejo de Evaluación y Seguimiento del Plan Verde (Green Plan Monitoring and Assessment Board) (CESPV) we argue that whilst the Plan Verde did have a significant impact on the environmental sustainability of the megacity, it failed to include effective citizen participation mechanisms. As predicted by several members of the CESPV, this lack of representation, alongside a failure to involve cross-sector multi-jurisdictional cooperation, appears to have facilitated the premature demise of the plan under the new administration.
AB - In recent years, Mexico City has gained an international reputation for its proactive and ground-breaking approach to sustainability, mainly as a result of the policies implemented by former Head of the Distrito Federal Government (2006-2012), Marcelo Ebrard. In this paper we examine the development and implementation of the Plan Verde de la Ciudad de México (Green Plan), the 15-year program through which Ebrard aimed to transform Mexico City into the most progressive and sustainable city in Latin America. One of the elements that would be integral to the plan’s success, it was claimed, would be the active participation of stakeholders from all levels of society at each stage of the process beginning with a public consultation prior to its inception. Drawing on documentary material and interviews with representatives of the Secretaría del Medio Ambiente del Distrito Federal (Ministry of Environment) and members of the Consejo de Evaluación y Seguimiento del Plan Verde (Green Plan Monitoring and Assessment Board) (CESPV) we argue that whilst the Plan Verde did have a significant impact on the environmental sustainability of the megacity, it failed to include effective citizen participation mechanisms. As predicted by several members of the CESPV, this lack of representation, alongside a failure to involve cross-sector multi-jurisdictional cooperation, appears to have facilitated the premature demise of the plan under the new administration.
KW - megacities
KW - sustainability
KW - public participation
KW - Plan Verde
KW - Mexico City
U2 - 10.1080/09640568.2015.1085841
DO - 10.1080/09640568.2015.1085841
M3 - Article
SN - 0964-0568
JO - Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
JF - Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
ER -