Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

Climate adaptation plans are an effective way to manage a marine ecosystem and support climate change research. However, in developing nations that have to deal with the impacts of climate change, there is little follow-up and no measures on whether these climate adaptation plans are implemented effectively and yield the desired results. This report contains a detailed analysis of a climate adaptation plan implemented in Tabasco, Mexico, that sought to decrease vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. This report consists of a background on the climate adaptation plan in Tabasco and a comprehensive, step-by-step comparison of this plan to the the UNFCCC framework for adaptation. Lastly, this report is complete with two case studies in Tabasco and policy recommendations for improved climate adaptation plans and government involvement in climate policy. The purpose of this report is to determine that despite the completion status of the climate adaptation plan, the goals outlined in this plan were not achieved satisfactorily and did not reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Mexico has faced challenges in effectively implementing conservation tools, ranging from weak enforcement to poor coordination between national, state, and local authorities. Ultimately, this report outlines the importance of a comprehensive and stakeholder-inclusive approach to climate change policy and planning, especially in the global south.