Mexican Environmental Policy Revisited

Abstract

Mexican environmental policy has received a great deal of criticism but very little analytical attention. In this report the Mexican effort is reevaluated with an emphasis on the technical and structural difficulties that threaten to undermine progress towards the government's stated environmental goals. Some of the key issues identified include the cost and availability of funds to the private sector, the dominance of political over technical priorities, and the weakness of social participation. The report indicates a need for greater attention to the political factors that shape policy choices, particularly if the lessons available from Mexico's experience are to be of use for other developing countries.¹