In the aftermath of a razor-thin election victory for far-right president Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia, environmental activists are preparing to face off against his administration's plans to unlock the country's vast fossil fuel reserves. This seismic shift in policy direction could have far-reaching consequences not only for Colombia but also for the UK and its interests, particularly when it comes to trade and energy security.
Yuvelis Morales Blanco, a 25-year-old Goldman Environmental Prize winner from Santander, is at the forefront of this battle. Born and raised by fisher parents on the Magdalena River, her deep connection to the land and its people fuels her determination to protect Colombia's natural resources. "We won't give up," she declared, echoing the resilience of activists who have faced some of the world's highest homicide rates for environmental defenders.
The election outcome – decided by less than 1% of the vote – reflects a deeply divided nation on environmental issues. While De la Espriella secured victory in most municipalities across Santander, areas such as Barrancabermeja and Puerto Wilches, where decades of oil extraction have left a trail of pollution, voted overwhelmingly for the leftist candidate, Iván Cepeda. Morales highlighted this disparity, noting that it's precisely those communities who have suffered the consequences of extraction and pollution – and are therefore most opposed to it.
The economic role of fossil fuels in Colombia has begun to shift, with non-mining and non-energy exports surpassing mining and energy exports for the first time since 2015. However, oil, coal, and gas still account for a significant 5% of the country's GDP – a proportion that is unlikely to change overnight. Critics argue that a middle-income country like Colombia cannot abruptly abandon these revenues, especially given its fiscal deficit reached 6.4% in 2025.
Andrés Gómez, a petroleum engineer and Latin America coordinator for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, advocates for a more measured approach – 'managing the decline' of extractive industries rather than an immediate abandonment. He points out that Colombia's relatively small proven reserves (0.1% of global total) compare to Venezuela's 17%, and highlights the significant growth in the country's renewable energy capacity, from 200 to 3,600MW between 2022 and 2026.