Security is a key element that cannot be overlooked in the context of transitions. These environmental, social, and economic changes often intersect with precarious economic conditions, limited governance capacities, high levels of informality, and— in some cases— the presence of organized crime. In many contexts, this makes the line between legal and illegal economies blurred and difficult to define, posing significant challenges for social, political, and economic actors. These dynamics can be found, to varying degrees, across Latin America.
Transition processes bring new challenges to the territories where they unfold, reshaping social and security dynamics and creating a need to understand their potential human rights impacts. The arrival or departure of economic sectors as a result of transitions may present either opportunities or risks for the safety of businesses and/or communities—depending on how these processes are managed.
In response to this reality, CREER is committed to generating knowledge and developing tools that address these issues through a comprehensive, territorial governance approach. This means ensuring the active participation of all social, political, and economic stakeholders in building agreements that foster development and reduce the structural drivers of violence. Beyond traditional approaches focused on the use of force, it is essential for economic actors—as key agents of regional development—to take an active role not only in identifying the risks associated with their operations, but also in co-creating agendas for collaboration and social dialogue.
❝
The Americas have the highest homicide rate in the world (15 homicides per 100,000 people), with a global average of
Source: UNODC, 2023.
Todos los derechos reservados | Desarrollado por CREER 2024 |
Report from the meeting with workers and trade unions
Testimony from workers and trade unions
The rapid expansion of critical minerals for the energy transition and other strategic industries (agriculture, defense, technology) presents us with a paradox: the decarbonization of the planet depends on an intensification of mining activity. For CREER, this rapid expansion carries critical risks regarding human rights, local economic dynamics, and ecosystem balance. Our work focuses on analyzing these dilemmas through the lens of a just transition, promoting governance frameworks that mitigate negative impacts and ensure that the mining of “minerals for the future” is carried out under rigorous standards of sustainability, equity, and respect for fundamental rights, through dialogue among different stakeholders.
We analyze the governance and sustainability challenges that arise in the implementation of decentralized generation models. Our work focuses on researching how local associative structures interact with regulatory frameworks and human rights standards. Through applied research, we assess the risks of rent capture, internal decision-making conflicts, and the conditions necessary for these self-management schemes to guarantee equitable and transparent participation in the territory.
With a focus on responsible land management and respect for local livelihoods, at CREER we apply our technical expertise in the photovoltaic sector to promote a solar transition with social integrity. Through the analysis of rural environments, the strengthening of local governance, and the design of participation mechanisms, we seek to ensure that large-scale deployment in Latin America not only contributes to the energy mix, but also strengthens the social fabric. Our purpose is to lead due diligence models that ensure solar infrastructure coexists with food security, strategic ecosystems, and the productive vocations of each community.
