Just transitions from coal in Colombia: between policy and reality

This policy brief identifies critical barriers to a just transition from thermal coal in Colombia, highlighting a gap between government commitments and the resources available. It emphasizes the need for concrete local investments and institutional capacity building in regions like Cesar and La Guajira, while noting conflicting visions between community/labour groups and mining interests.

• The Colombian government has committed to a just energy transition roadmap and is prioritizing thermal coal regions in the Caribbean, where coal is primarily an export commodity rather than a domestic fuel, though additional resources are needed to achieve these goals.
• Stakeholders hold diverging visions for the future of coal in Colombia; labour organizations, community groups, academia, and local/national NGOs differ from mining companies and some policymakers who resist the transition.
• Thermal coal regions in Colombia face significant transition obstacles, including global market fluctuations, geopolitical tensions, the social and environmental legacy of extraction, and the economic impact of losing a major industrial sector.
• Subnational governments in Colombia are essential for supporting just transitions but are hindered by inadequate financing mechanisms and a lack of institutional competencies and capacities.
• While inclusive stakeholder dialogues are necessary, a just transition requires concrete local strategies, programs, and investments, particularly in areas like Cesar that have already experienced the suspension of mining activities.

APA

F.'], [. E. '.-A. J. '.-N. J. '. (2024). Just transitions from coal in Colombia: between policy and reality. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/publications/just-transitions-coal-colombia-policy-reality/

Chicago

F.'], ['Arond, E.', 'Vega-Araújo, J.', 'Peña-Niño, J.', 'Patzy,. Just transitions from coal in Colombia: between policy and reality. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2024. https://www.sei.org/publications/just-transitions-coal-colombia-policy-reality/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=F.'] |first1=['Arond, E.', 'Vega-Araújo, J.', 'Peña-Niño, J.', 'Patzy, |title=Just transitions from coal in Colombia: between policy and reality |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=11 October 2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/just-transitions-coal-colombia-policy-reality/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{f2024just, author = {F.'], ['Arond, E.', 'Vega-Araújo, J.', 'Peña-Niño, J.', 'Patzy,}, title = {{Just transitions from coal in Colombia: between policy and reality}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/just-transitions-coal-colombia-policy-reality/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }