On February 16, CREER convened a diverse group of stakeholders in the city of Riohacha to share the results of a survey on the relationship between Polarization and Energy Transition. The event explored topics such as levels of knowledge, the media sources through which people receive information, socio-economic and environmental expectations, and perceptions of conflict and participation spaces in the context of the energy transition in Cesar and La Guajira.
During the same event, CREER presented the publication “How to Avoid Running Before Walking,” which offers a human rights-based perspective on the tensions between energy transition and territorial transformation. The document responds to conversations and concerns raised by communities over recent years in the region.
With the participation of representatives from public and private entities, civil society, and Wayuu Indigenous communities, attendees analyzed the survey results and engaged in dialogue from multiple perspectives. These discussions contributed to enriching the debate on the future of energy transition efforts in La Guajira and on the collective construction of actions toward a just transition—one that takes into account the voices and needs of all relevant actors.
In addition to presenting the survey results, participants engaged in a collective recommendation-building exercise for the upcoming Municipal Development Plans. Working in teams, they focused on two key topics:
(i) the cultural impacts of the energy transition, with particular emphasis on women and youth; and
(ii) the economic implications of the transitions in their territories.
The event also drew on insights gathered throughout the week during meetings with communities and leaders from Barrancas, San Juan del Cesar, Hatonuevo, Uribia, Maicao, and Albania. These gatherings served as a space for feedback and discussion on the project’s main findings.
This research also includes an analysis of media and information sources, as well as conversations in territories affected by energy and mining activities—particularly in the departments of La Guajira and Cesar, two of the main regions involved in coal mining and energy transition processes in Colombia.
*Special thanks to the Cesar Peace and Development Program (PDPC) for their support in these activities, carried out within the framework of the Weaving Territorial Transformations (TTT) Alliance.
Click here to view the survey results
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.
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.
