Human Dimension. The Social Sciences and Carbon in Mexico: A clear connection?

 

This section offers a preliminary diagnostic of research conducted in the field of social sciences in Mexico as related to the carbon cycle. While the diagnostic is based on a document that collects studies centered mostly on climatic change (Romero- Lankao et al. 2004), many of the topics considered touch on the social dimension of the relation between carbon, the climatic system and society. Two questions guided the diagnostic: on which research problems do researchers and specialists in the social dimension focus their efforts with respect to the relationship carbon-climate-society? What are the strengths (and weaknesses) of those programs, and what are their goals?
An analytic scheme was used that took into account the following components: a) social determinants or motors interacting within the guidelines of socioeconomic development, and touching on; b) recent trajectories and future scenarios for human activity involved in the use of energy and land, and in the configuration of fossil carbon storage; c) changes in the flows and storage of carbon and in the planet’s climatic system, which in turn; c) have an impact on ecosystems and social systems (for example, via modifications in patterns of change and climatic variability); and d) spontaneous and planned social responses, based on the social perception of changes and tending to mitigate them or  adapt to them.
A preliminary characterization of those topics of the Mexican research agenda related to society, the carbon cycle and the climatic system was carried out. The idea was to present an initial approach to evaluate what has been achieved and the remaining challenges. The diagnostic, which in no way covered all the literature produced in Mexico on the subject, was based on the revision of 354 texts, a number of which touch on two or three related topics. It was discovered that a great number of texts were focused on the components of determinants, emission activities, impact and vulnerability.  
It was concluded that the Mexican social sciences have accumulated notable research capital, above all when we consider their relatively recent entry into this field of study. Of particular note is that a considerable proportion of the studies do not specifically approach the relationship of the relevant topics with the carbon cycle and climatic system and for this reason it was suggested that studies explicitly exploring the links between determinants, emissions activities, impact, social responses, carbon and climate be promoted.
Based on the discussion held during the first meeting of the Mexican Carbon Program (PMC), it was suggested that four major topics be promoted – or as the case may be – consolidated:

  1. First and second order determinants in the emission of greenhouse gases owing principally to the “use” of energy sources and changes in land usage. Among the determinants the following are of particular relevance: demographic dynamics, economic growth, technological development and institutional dynamics. It was suggested that the following be studied a) the space-time contribution of human activities in carbon storage and flows; b) the space-time contributions of emissions activities; c) the agreements or – in their absence – discrepancies between scales. The topics were summarized in the question: what is known about the carbon cycle?
  2. Regional and Sectoral impact of changes in the carbon cycle and the climatic system (coastal regions, cities, agriculture, water). The topics were determined in answer to the question concerning impact.
  3. Planned and spontaneous social perceptions and responses (mitigation and adaptation). Key topics here are a) relations between mitigation, adaptation and sustainable development; b) design and evaluation of management of projects for the capture of carbon via the management of ecosystems (forests and seas, for example) and their environmental services; c) design and evaluation of programs for warning systems, disaster response, public health and climatic predictions. The topic is linked to the discussion concerning what needs to be done.
  4. Analysis and management tools. The key topics are a) construction of a language available to distinct disciplines and social sectors; b) scenarios, measurement balances and inventories, Kaya identity, modeling of the relationship between society, the carbon cycle and the climatic system.