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Drifting Past Policy Coherence? Rhetoric and Realities of the Mexican Sembrando Vida Program’s Sustainability Goals

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  • Sofia Mardero

    (School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9AL, UK
    School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
    Department of Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada)

  • Birgit Schmook

    (Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Ocean Observation and Research, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal 77014, Mexico)

  • Sophie Calmé

    (Department of Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
    Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Ocean Observation and Research, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal 77014, Mexico)

  • Grecia Casanova

    (Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Ocean Observation and Research, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal 77014, Mexico)

  • Rehema M. White

    (School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9AL, UK)

Abstract

Global and interconnected sustainability challenges require systems thinking and policy coherence to support bold and coordinated action. To chart a course for action, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a suite of targets across international and national levels. Here, we explore intentions and contributions over time of the Mexican multifaceted rural-development program Sembrando Vida (SV) to the SDGs, to assess its policy coherence for sustainable development, especially in relation to climate change. We reviewed online documents and newspaper articles, interviewed key SV staff and analyzed the Mexican President’s morning conference speeches. We show that multiplicity and adaptation of stated intentions suggest opportunistic forms of policy drift with limited policy coherence. The potential of the SV program remains promising, but it requires clearer objectives, coherent strategy, expert knowledge, community support and evaluation. These results demonstrate how political context can cause policy drift and negatively impact intended policy coherence for sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Mardero & Birgit Schmook & Sophie Calmé & Grecia Casanova & Rehema M. White, 2025. "Drifting Past Policy Coherence? Rhetoric and Realities of the Mexican Sembrando Vida Program’s Sustainability Goals," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-19, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:2:p:278-:d:1579671
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arman Bidarbakhtnia, 2020. "Measuring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): An Inclusive Approach," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 11(1), pages 56-67, February.
    2. Christian Kroll & Anne Warchold & Prajal Pradhan, 2019. "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Are we successful in turning trade-offs into synergies?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Alexander Brand & Mark Furness & Niels Keijzer, 2021. "Promoting Policy Coherence within the 2030 Agenda Framework: Externalities, Trade-Offs and Politics," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(1), pages 108-118.
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