Potentials and Challenges for a Circular Economy in Mexico
2.5 Conclusion
As mentioned in the introduction, Mexico is a complex country with at least two rather different and often contradicting faces: a modern and a premodern one. These two together define Mexico’s chances to transform towards a circular economy. The market conditions and long-term market trends in the country are positive and should be seen as a potential positive condition for a – long-term – transformation process towards a circular economy. The country’s National Development Plan aims at stimulating green growth and recognises the need to improve the existing infrastructure for reuse and recycling of waste. The Mexican Ministry of Social
Development identified a huge economic potential for recycling of waste, and gov- ernmental funds are liberated to upgrade state, municipal or inter-municipal waste management plans. Environmental education exists since the 1980s, and each of the 32 states has a state-wide plan for education, training and communication in envi- ronmental matters. Knowledge transfer systems equally exist, on both national and international levels, and, in general, Mexicans are keen to adapt themselves to new technologies and new technology-induced practices. Most of these indicators pro- vide a positive outlook on Mexico’s potential to change to a circular economy and show that many opportunities exist.
The question is if Mexico will be able to seize these opportunities. This question is real, as a number of serious challenges exist as well. Markets are rather inflexible;
banks refuse to provide long-term credit; and above all, many organisations, both in the private and the public sector, lack practice that favours new ideas, innovation and creativity. A collectivistic culture of “being” rather than “doing”, combined with a low perceived need to reduce uncertainty and a related desire to shape and control the future, leaves Mexico with a mentality of “Que sera, sera” or “what will be, will be”.
Such a mentality does not create incentives to seize opportunities. The discrepancy between the creation and execution of policy plan is another real challenge. Good intentions and plans exist, but the Mexican history shows that realisation of plans is not easy. With respect to environmental education, something similar can be observed.
Even though environmental education exists, its content is not really geared at learn- ing-by-doing and reflective practice, and its potential in a transformation process towards a circular economy is therefore limited. Finally, Mexico really misses a learning culture that stimulates reflective practice and collaborations or co-creation in teams. This flaw in learning capability is a characteristic that permeates many spheres of economy and society and is one of the biggest challenges to overcome.
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