This exploratory phase has allowed us to gain an initial overview of the relationship between the energy transition and polarization—particularly in connection with (mis)information, media, engagement with mining and energy companies, political positions, and levels of knowledge.
Based on the findings, the main takeaways from the survey are as follows:
A partir de esto, las principales conclusiones clave que podemos identificar en esta encuesta son:
In La Guajira and Cesar—recognized as the epicenter of energy transition projects in public policies and government agendas in recent years—there is a significant level of misunderstanding, misinformation, or lack of awareness regarding key concepts related to this phenomenon.
For example:
Around 67% of respondents do not clearly understand what energy transition means.
77% are unfamiliar with the concept of decarbonization.
72% do not know what fracking is.
At the same time, there are high expectations about job creation, lower electricity costs, and environmental protection as part of the energy transition—expectations that do not necessarily align with the actual outcomes of such projects or policies.
As a result, false expectations may lead to tensions, conflicts, and the granting—or withdrawal—of social license for energy transition projects in the medium and long term.
Media plays a key role in disseminating information at both national and local levels. In this case, the survey shows that the most consumed sources of information in the region are social media and television. Paradoxically, these are also the sources that people trust the least when it comes to learning about the energy transition.
This high level of distrust, combined with information gaps, limited access to reliable sources, and the fact that approximately 48% of respondents reported never having seen or heard news related to the energy transition, opens the door to misinformation and the spread of biased, simplified, and politicized narratives.
This can lead to the formation of sharply contrasting—or even opposing—opinions, posing risks to agreement-building and critical understanding of the issues. It encourages emotional interpretations and the formation of echo chambers, where people only engage with information that aligns with their own ideology, excluding alternative viewpoints.
[1] Echo chamber: a closed media environment that amplifies aligned messages and filters out dissonant ones (Jamieson and Cappella, 2010:76).
Closely tied to information flows, companies operating in the region play a crucial role. The creation of spaces for citizen participation in the energy transition process can either amplify or mitigate the risks of polarization.
In this case, it’s important to note that about 55% of respondents believe that these participatory spaces serve more as platforms for socializing and imposing ideas, rather than truly reflecting the demands or input of the communities affected by these projects.
This perception of closed dialogue spaces may fuel conflict and tensions, making it harder to build agreements in project-affected areas.
While the term polarization is not widely used, people in the region do express concerns about the conflicts and fragmentation that the energy transition is generating in their territories.
78% of respondents believe that the country is currently polarized.
68% feel that the energy transition is dividing the social, political, and economic life of the region.
Nearly 46% report having observed conflicts and tensions regarding how the energy transition process is being implemented.
Given these perceptions of deep social and political division, one can foresee a potential barrier to open dialogue and recognition of others’ viewpoints as legitimate, leading instead to opposition and rejection.
Consequently, there is a risk of affective polarization, which could contribute to social fragmentation and make it increasingly difficult to reach consensus on energy transition efforts.
A special thanks to the Cesar and La Guajira Peace and Development Program, with whom we carried out the survey data collection and analysis in La Guajira as part of the “Weaving Territorial Transformations” (TTT) Alliance.
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Report from the meeting with workers and trade unions
Testimony from workers and trade unions
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