This paper outlines the contributions of social science to the study of interactions between urbanization patterns and processes and the carbon cycle, and identifies gaps in knowledge and priority areas for future social scientific research contributions. While previously studied as a unidimensional process, we conceptualize urbanization as a multidimensional, social and biophysical process driven by continuous changes across space and time in various subsystems including biophysical, built environment, and socio-institutional (e.g., economic, political, demographic, behavioral, and sociological). We review research trends and findings focused on the socio-institutional subsystem of the urbanization process, and particularly the dynamics, relationships, and predictions relevant to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Our findings suggest that a multidimensional perspective of urbanization facilitates a wider spectrum of research relevant to carbon cycle dynamics, even within the socio-institutional subsystem. However, there is little consensus around the details and mechanisms underlying the relationship between urban socio-institutional subsystems and the carbon cycle. We argue that progress in understanding the relationship between urbanization and the carbon cycle may be achieved if social scientists work collaboratively with each other as well as with scientists from other disciplines. From this review, we identify research priorities where collaborative social scientific efforts are necessary in conjunction with other disciplinary approaches to generate a more complete understanding of urbanization as a process and its relationship to the carbon cycle.

Si bien recientemente la comunidad científica confirmó el papel de la actividad humana en las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero, todavía existen importantes retos para considerar las transformaciones sociales futuras y sus efectos sobre el clima y las sociedades. En este trabajo discutimos la utilización de los escenarios de cambio climático como una herramienta heurística para examinar las interacciones entre los sistemas terrestres y lo social. Discutimos particularmente la utilidad de las Trayectorias Socioeconómicas Compartidas que modelan futuros alternativos de desarrollo con distintos desafíos de mitigación y de adaptación al cambio climático. Reflexionamos sobre sus antecedentes, aplicaciones y usos potenciales para México. 

Abstract:In recent decades, residential energy consumption has grown in Mexico despite high poverty levels. While inequalities in energy have been documented, less attention has been paid to practices of consumption. Particularly, we sustain that it is necessary to account for changes in associated behaviors, which shape energy use, such as the acquisition of electrical appliances. This paper analyzes if there is evidence of diffusion of energy practices from higher to lower-income households. We hypothesize that more intensive energy practices expand across groups beyond their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Employing a harmonized dataset of thirteen Income and Expenditure Household Surveys, we assess changes in electrical appliances and electricity consumption. Using latent class analysis, we construct energy profiles that identify underlying consumption behaviors from sociodemographic and residential characteristics. We find support for the argument that intensive energy practices expanded from high to lower socioeconomic groups. While this trend reflects improvements in living conditions in Mexico, it also highlights the environmental challenges that increasing consumption poses for sustainable development goals.

En este artículo se examina el nivel y cambio en la segregación socioeconómica en la Ciudad de México en dos dimensiones: ingreso del hogar (1990-2000) y educación del jefe del hogar (1990-2005). Aprovechando las propiedades del índice de Theil (H), se analiza: a) si simultáneamente aumentó la segregación entre los hogares de los estratos socioeconómicos medio, bajo y alto; b) cuáles estratos experimentaron los mayores cambios en sus patrones de segregación, y c) cómo éstos contribuyeron a la tendencia global. Los resultados evidencian la mayor segregación de los estratos altos por ingresos y educativos, aunque las tendencias multigrupo difieren por la dimensión analizada. AbstractThis article examines the scope and type of changes in socio-economic segregation in Mexico in two dimensions: household income (1990-2000) and head of household’s educational attainment (1990-2005). Using the properties of the Theil’s H Index, the author analyzes a) whether segregation between households in medium, low and high socio-economic strata increased simultaneously; b) which strata experienced the greatest changes in its segregation patterns and c) how they contributed to the global trend. The results reveal a greater degree of segregation between the high strata by income and educational attainment, although multigroup trends differ as a result of the dimension analyzed.

* Se señalan las metas o líneas prioritarias con propósitos claramente ambientales. Entre paréntesis se indica el número total de objetivos contemplados.