María Valentina Rincón

Researcher / Energy Transitions Program Lead

valentina.rincon@creer-ihrb.org

Anthropologist from Universidad de los Andes, with a specialization in Public Policies for Equality in Latin America from CLACSO. She has professional experience in energy transition and environmental governance in the mining and energy sector, with a focus on innovation, transparency, human rights, and the implementation of differential approaches.

At CREER, she has conducted research on the intersection between a just energy transition and polarization; the human rights impacts of onshore and offshore wind energy projects; critical minerals in renewable energy value chains; and responsible mine closure. Currently, as part of CREER’s Just Transitions and Territorial Transformation Program, she leads the Renewables thematic line, promoting dialogic, collaborative, and consensus-based actions aimed at achieving a just and responsible transition.

Working Sector

Report from the meeting with workers and trade unions

Testimony from workers and trade unions

Closures and multi-stakeholder dialogue

Full document

Executive summary

Transitional minerals

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.

Energy Communities

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.

Solar

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.

Resources for Territorial Planning

Peacebuilding, Citizen Participation, and Human Rights

Transformative Perspectives for a Just Energy Transition