On September 26, we participated in the second forum titled “Wayuu Women and Youth: The Sacred Energy of Water and Wind”, held in the city of Maicao, La Guajira.
This space, organized in collaboration with the Mesa ANDI Más La Guajira and the organization Evas y Adanes, brought together voices from various sectors to discuss a just energy transition and wind energy in La Guajira.
What did these voices leave us with?
It is crucial to understand that both extractive and renewable economies have differentiated impacts on Wayuu women, who see themselves as guardians and defenders of the territory. Therefore, a just transition must begin with a deep understanding of the Wayuu culture and social organization (as well as that of other communities in La Guajira), especially when engaging in dialogue on territorial development and energy-mining projects planned for the region—from a human rights perspective.
We must foster multi-stakeholder dialogue spaces to build, collectively, the meaning of what is “just” and to understand the different perspectives involved (from communities, businesses, and institutions). In this process, it is essential to include the voices of young people and women who, despite having knowledge and leadership within their territories, face both internal and external barriers to participation and influence in decision-making around just energy transitions.
The role of youth must be recognized in the various processes related to just transitions (productive diversification, renewable energy, prior consultations, and more), as their involvement is critical to ensuring the future sustainability of decisions made by the Wayuu people and other communities within the areas of influence of these projects in La Guajira.
These insights and more are part of CREER’s ongoing work in La Guajira, where you can explore topics such as:
• Polarization and energy transition: See more
• Just wind energy: achieving community equity through policies, practices, and advocacy: See more
• Integrated Sectoral Impact Assessment on Human Rights in the Wind Energy Sector in Colombia: See more
Many thanks to Evas y Adanes and the Mesa ANDI Más La Guajira for making this dialogue possible.
To learn more about what happened during this event, we invite you to watch the video highlights:
https://youtu.be/u2O9hMCdGrY?feature=shared
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.
