Agnolucci, P. (2007). The effect of fi nancial constraints, technological progress and long-term contracts on tradable green certifi cates. Energy Policy, 35(6), pp.

This paper argues that energy efficiency and conservation is a noncontroversial, critical, and equitable option for rich and poor alike. Although there is growing scientific and political consensus on its significance as an important option at global and national level, the political momentum for taking action is not commensurate with the potential in the sector or the urgency with which measures need to be taken to deal with climate change. The current global energy (efficiency) governance framework is diffuse. This paper submits that there are four substantive reasons why global governance should play a complementary role in promoting energy efficiency worldwide. Furthermore, given that market mechanisms are unable to rapidly mobilize energy efficiency projects and that there are no clear vested interests in this field which involves a large number of actors, there is need for a dedicated agency to promote energy efficiency and conservation. This paper provides an overview of energy efficiency options presented by IPCC, the current energy efficiency governance structure at global level, and efforts taken at supranational and national levels, and makes suggestions for a governance framework.

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The Subprime Crisis in 2008 showed the need to devise mechanisms of economic adaptation and prevention of losses in a context of extreme vulnerability, which defied traditional views of economic and political organization worldwide. For the tourism sector the challenge doubled since it is normally highly vulnerable to external impacts, which in turn tend to compromise the capacity of recovery of tourist destinations. This paper offers a comparison of responses from the lodging sector to the world economic crisis in two APEC tourism destinations: Phuket (Thailand) and Los Cabos (Mexico). Both destinations reflect a dynamic model of foreign investment and demand and are site to processes of economic and demographic growth that foster controversial local and external interactions. An analysis of perceptions and actions taken by the hotel sector to face the still undergoing economic crisis could help strengthen the sector's capacity of recovery so that lessons can be advanced for the future and other similar destinations.

Coastal cities have seen an unprecedented growth with regional settlements due to development activities; that is why measures are needed to mitigate risk of adverse events such as tropical cyclones. Baja California Sur, a state known as a relevant ecological and tourist region, includes destinations such as Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, impacted yearly by tropical cyclones, so it is important to design contingency plans and provide available information to the residents. Los Cabos municipality has the highest population growth rate and its inhabitants are more susceptible to adverse events; despite this, there were no indicators of social and ecological vulnerability to risk effects of tropical cyclones. The objective of this research is to calculate the socio-environmental vulnerability of households through an index to identify risk factors. We have obtained a classification according to levels of vulnerability, and the results have shown that 74% of the households are high on the vulnerability scale, 21% of households are moderately vulnerable and only the remaining 5% of households are less vulnerable. In conclusion, the devastating effects of hydrometeorological events were mainly due to a lack of knowledge regarding such events among inhabitants.

The tourism sector in developing regions that are highly integrated into international markets has noticeable effects on the growth of the informal economy. For women vendors on the beach and the marina of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where the economy revolves around tourism and real estate, hawking souvenirs is an opportunity for empowerment and income, but it can also lead to their exploitation and self-exploitation. While women may suffer discrimination within the tourism sector, ambulant vending contributes to the reduction of poverty and may give women a greater say in their households and their communities. Nonetheless these women are marginalized by their low incomes and lack of social security, their lack of access to the education that might lead to formal-sector employment, their residential segregation, and, for some, the racism directed at indigenous people.El sector de turismo en regiones en vías de desarrollo que se encuentre altamente integrado con los mercados internacionales, tiene efectos en el crecimiento de la economía informal. Para las mujeres vendedoras ambulantes en las playas de Cabo San Lucas, México, en donde la economía se concentra en el turismo y bienes raíces, la venta de recuerdos puede proveer una oportunidad para capacitarse y ganar ingresos, pero también puede llevar a su explotación y auto explotación. Mientras las mujeres pueden sufrir a causa de la discriminación en el sector turístico, la venta ambulante puede reducir la pobreza y darles a las mujeres mayor voz en el hogar y la comunidad. Pese esto, las mujeres se encuentran marginadas por su bajo ingreso y falta de seguro social, su falta de acceso a la educación que puede conducir al empleo en el sector formal, su segregación residencial, y, para algunas, el racismo en contra de los indígenas.

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