The Latin America–Europe Alliance for Responsible Territories (ATRAE) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on advancing public policies on Business and Human Rights at the territorial level.
Its goal is to promote responsible business conduct through the development of innovative public policies on Business and Human Rights and Sustainable Development in subnational entities across Latin America and Europe, contributing to the creation of responsible territories.
The alliance was initially established in December 2021 in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since then, various processes have been developed to strengthen the participation of more actors in the initiative, which benefits from international cooperation funding and the strategic support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, South America Regional Office, within the framework of the CERALC project for Responsible Business Conduct in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In this context, CREER has been formally admitted as a member of the ATRAE Alliance, where it aims to contribute its expertise in capacity building—not only with businesses but also with subnational government institutions—drawing from the organization’s extensive experience in Colombia, with a regional perspective toward Latin America.
By joining the alliance, CREER will support local and regional authorities across various territories in developing public policy frameworks that ensure respect for human rights within the scope of business activities. This mission has been one of CREER’s core lines of work since its founding in 2015.
The original signatories of the alliance included:
Undersecretariat for Human Rights and Cultural Pluralism, Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Undersecretariat for Equal Opportunities, Government of Salta (Argentina)
Secretariat of Government, Justice and Human Rights, Government of San Juan (Argentina)
National Federation of Departments (Colombia)
Government of Antioquia (Colombia)
Government of Valle del Cauca (Colombia)
Government of Cundinamarca (Colombia)
Pedro Arrupe Institute of Human Rights – University of Deusto (Spain)
Sustentia Social Innovation (Spain)
United Nations Global Compact Network (Argentina)
CREER now joins these and other institutions that have become part of the alliance over time, which will enable us to further strengthen dialogue at multiple levels (local, national, regional—LATAM—and even global), positioning the organization within key discussions that are part of our ongoing work in Colombia and across the region.
La Primera Conferencia Internacional para la Transición más allá de los Combustibles Fósiles realizada en Santa Marta, dejó una conversación más realista sobre la transición energética.
The First International Conference for a Transition Beyond Fossil Fuels, held in Santa Marta, Colombia, resulted in a more pragmatic and realistic dialogue regarding the energy transition.
In a context where sustainable finance has primarily advanced along the environmental dimension, at CREER we make a clear call: There is no sustainable transition without human rights at the center of financial decision-making.
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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.
