In recent years, the just and green transition has emerged as a key concept in the fight against the climate crisis and in the development of more sustainable economies. However, its implementation in the Global South, particularly in Latin America, presents significant challenges. The region’s history is marked by extractivism, with severe impacts on local communities and ecosystems. This raises important questions about how just this transition truly is, and who is benefiting from it.
Our new policy paper, “A Just and Green Transition – For Whom? An Analysis from Latin America”, examines the implications of European policies aimed at promoting a model of green energy transition. In particular, it explores the consequences of these policies in Latin America, a region rich in natural resources and key to Europe’s supply of critical raw materials essential for the green transition.
The study highlights that this model may lead to a deepening of extractivism, perpetuating negative impacts on communities, territories, and the environment. The paper presents the example of the “Lithium Triangle” (Chile, Argentina and Bolivia) and green hydrogen initiatives in Colombia, along with the concerns raised by affected communities.
To achieve a truly just and sustainable energy transition, it is essential to adopt a global justice approach, establishing robust regulatory and institutional frameworks grounded in human rights. Furthermore, it is vital to incorporate the perspectives and needs of communities in the Global South, who are on the frontline of both extractivism and the climate crisis.
This policy paper therefore calls for a critical reflection on how current policies are impacting local communities, and what conditions are necessary to ensure a genuinely just and green transition.
Read the executive summary here
Read the full paper here
