Entire Book - Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research ...
Entire Book - Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research ...
Entire Book - Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research ...
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OVERVIEW<br />
Introduction<br />
This volume is organized as follows. Chapter II provides a snapshot<br />
of the border, which is a complex social milieu. It is an area characterized<br />
by both poverty and rapid economic development and population<br />
growth. Complicating this is the relative position of the two<br />
sides of the border within their respective countries. The border is<br />
among the most impoverished areas in the United States and is eligible<br />
<strong>for</strong> help from state and federal governments. The border is also<br />
among the wealthiest regions of Mexico, which causes the Mexican<br />
government’s reluctance to provide resources <strong>for</strong> environmental<br />
problems there because other regions of Mexico have greater needs.<br />
Chapter III summarizes air quality issues facing the border. The<br />
air quality standards in Mexico and the United States are compared<br />
in detail. Developing an emissions trading program on the border<br />
will require cooperation among U.S. and Mexican officials. This<br />
cooperation will be facilitated if, as is currently the case, the air<br />
quality standards in the two countries are similar. Differences in<br />
en<strong>for</strong>cement ef<strong>for</strong>ts between the two countries are discussed.<br />
Chapter III also discusses border institutions dealing with the environment,<br />
including the North American Development Bank, the<br />
Border Environment Cooperation Commission, and the<br />
Commission on <strong>Environmental</strong> Cooperation. Chapter III addresses<br />
the attainment status of various airsheds along the border. PM 10 is<br />
identified as a major problem. The chapter ends with a brief history<br />
of cooperation on the border on environmental issues.<br />
Chapter IV presents the results of a survey of maquiladoras with<br />
regard to their understanding of environmental regulation and emissions<br />
trading. The main conclusion from this chapter is that large<br />
firms identify PM 10 as a significant problem; it follows that a trading<br />
program dealing with PM 10 may be possible, although PM 10<br />
tends to be highly localized in its effects.<br />
Chapter V presents the major results of the monograph. The<br />
chapter opens with a discussion of main issues in the design of emissions<br />
reduction trading programs. Specific recommendations are<br />
made <strong>for</strong> how a transborder emission reduction credit trading program<br />
should be designed. Among these recommendations is a pro-<br />
21