sei-db-2017-the-changing-politics-of-coal-cc4074cd99e4dbc7.pdf

This discussion brief examines the political economy of large-scale coal production in Colombia, analyzing the conflict between entrenched industry interests and growing social, environmental, and legal opposition. It details how the coal sector, once a pillar of national development, now faces challenges from declining global demand, judicial activism by the Constitutional Court, and local resistance, forcing companies to shift their public relations and political strategies.

• Coal production in Colombia grew significantly between 2000 and 2015, increasing from 38 million tonnes (Mt) to nearly 89 Mt. By 2015, the sector accounted for approximately 12% of the country's exports and 1.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP).
• The Colombian coal industry has benefited from substantial government support and tax incentives. In 2015, the mining sector received 23.4% of all tax discounts provided to legal entities in Colombia, which lowered corporate income taxes by 11%. Between 2005 and 2010, these tax breaks were higher than the actual income taxes paid by mining companies.
• Large-scale mining has faced criticism for failing to translate resource rents into broad socio-economic development. Research indicates that municipalities receiving high amounts of royalties did not show better social indicators in health, education, or public infrastructure compared to those that did not receive royalties.
• Opponents of coal mining, including indigenous communities and municipal authorities, have shifted from traditional protest methods to institutional and legal strategies. This includes using 'acciones de tutela' to protect fundamental rights and conducting public consultations to defy national mining plans.
• The Colombian Constitutional Court has become a central actor in mining governance, issuing over 50 rulings between 2010 and 2016. Notable decisions include prohibiting mining in 'páramos' (alpine tundra ecosystems), which affected more than 340 mining titles, and striking down bans that prevented municipalities from blocking mining activities on their territory.
• In response to opposition, the national government and coal companies have evolved their narratives. They shifted from describing the sector as a 'development engine' (2010–2014) to emphasizing its role in financing peace-building and redirecting criticism toward 'illegal mining'.
• Coal companies have moved away from a 'low profile' enclave economy model toward active public relations and corporate social responsibility (CSR). For example, Drummond increased social investments from 2.6 billion pesos in 2010 to 3.3 billion pesos in 2015 and provided professional development grants for journalists in the Cesar Department.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). sei-db-2017-the-changing-politics-of-coal-cc4074cd99e4dbc7.pdf. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2017-The-changing-politics-of-coal.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. sei-db-2017-the-changing-politics-of-coal-cc4074cd99e4dbc7.pdf. n.d. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2017-The-changing-politics-of-coal.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=sei-db-2017-the-changing-politics-of-coal-cc4074cd99e4dbc7.pdf |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2017-The-changing-politics-of-coal.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendseidb2017thechangingpoliticsofcoalcc4074cd99e4dbc7pdf, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{sei-db-2017-the-changing-politics-of-coal-cc4074cd99e4dbc7.pdf}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2017-The-changing-politics-of-coal.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }