Climate policy integration: taking advantage of policy windows? An analysis of the energy and environment sectors in Mexico (1997–2018)

ABSTRACT

Given the crosscutting character of climate change, improving our understanding of its integration into sectorial policy domains is relevant. We contribute empirically with a case study in Mexico where we analyze climate policy integration in terms of policy outputs and processes. Firstly, we adapted an approach to measure events of regulatory output change and applied it to our original dataset of changes in Mexican environmental and energy laws and regulations between 1997 and 2018. Secondly, based on expert interviews and using the multiple streams as theoretical framework, we explored the role of policy entrepreneurs on influencing policy change towards climate policy integration, in particular the enactment of the law for energy transition in 2015. The Energy Reform in 2013, which aimed at increasing private participation in fossil fuels production, was framed as a solution to the problem of ‘uncertainties over oil reserves and energy demand growth’. Paradoxically, policy entrepreneurs advocated for a transition toward clean electricity as a solution to the same problem. They also identified the 21st UNFCCC Conference of the Parties as an event influencing the political stream and opening a window of opportunity for the enactment of the law for energy transition.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate policy integration
• policy entrepreneurs
• policy windows
• energy transition
• policy expansion
• policy dismantling

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Otto Mønsteds Fond.

Notes on contributors

Alma Lucía García Hernández

Alma Garcia Hernandez is a PhD student at UNEP DTU Partnership, Technical University of Denmark where she carries out research on climate policy integration. She holds an MSc degree in Environmental Studies from Aalborg University and has experience working as an environmental and climate change consultant for the private sector and for the Inter-American Development Bank. As part of her work at UNEP DTU Partnership she has collaborated in the design of a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action for the sugar industry in Mexico.

Simone Lucatello

Simone Lucatello is professor and researcher at the Research Institute Dr. José María Luis Mora (CONACYT) in Mexico City. He holds an MSc degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a PhD in analysis and governance of sustainable development from the International University of Venice. He is also an associate researcher at the Climate Change Research Program in the National Autonomous University in Mexico and participates in diverse academic networks. He has collaborated with various UN and EU programs and participates in the elaboration of the next Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.