Professor Andrea Carolina Cardoso Díaz is an expert in environmental and ecological economics, director of the “Energy Transitions” research group at the Universidad del Magdalena in Santa Maria, Colombia. She is affiliated with TRAJECTS, one of four DAAD-funded Global Climate and Environment Centres. We spoke to her about the social aspects of energy transition, the importance of indigenous knowledge and the current political situation in Colombia.

Professor Cardoso Díaz, the climate crisis is more urgent than ever. It is crucial that we move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources as quickly as possible. Why do we still find this so difficult?

2024 was the first year in which warming exceeded 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures. This is a call to action! The fact that we are moving far too slowly has to do with the fact that many developing countries are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Mitigation and adaptation must therefore be linked to environmental and climate justice. Even if fossil fuels continue to dominate, surrender in the fight against climate change is not an option, and we must work together with justice and equity to achieve it.

For many, the transformation of the energy sector is a purely technical issue.

But that is too short-sighted. The energy transition is first and foremost a social, economic, environmental and cultural process of change and transformation to reshape human relationships with energy, the production system and consumption. Actions in favour of energy transition must be framed in the context of respect for the planet's environmental limits. To minimise the conflicts associated with this transition, the process must be democratic. 

Many people in Colombia are still heavily dependent on the coal industry. How can we ensure that the transition to renewable energy is socially equitable and does not disadvantage these communities?

There is a need for a change in production and alternative, diverse sources of income. A just transition must be approached in a multidimensional way and involve changes in different areas: for example, in the education system so that the labour force is trained locally to meet the requirements of the new job profiles. The production of energy must be designed and structured according to the conditions of each territory and community and of society as a whole. The participation of communities plays a crucial role here.

Your research emphasises the integration of local and indigenous knowledge in the development of sustainable energy systems. What role does this knowledge play in shaping a just energy transition, and how can it be effectively integrated into policymaking processes?

In Colombia there is an indigenous movement “Fuerza de Mujeres Wayuu” (“The Force of Wayuu Women”). It denounces both the negative impacts of coal mining and the impacts of large-scale photovoltaic and wind energy. Like coal mining, wind farms are also considered controversial. They cause displacement from a territory that often also has great spiritual significance for the indigenous communities, and also result in environmental changes that threaten people's livelihoods. One solution could be the creation of so-called “energy communities”, as proposed by the Colombian government in its 'Roadmap for a Just Energy Transition'. These energy communities take into account ethnic, cultural and territorial characteristics that will facilitate the inclusion of local communities in the energy production value chain.

Unfortunately, Colombia is currently experiencing an escalation of armed conflict in various regions, which is exacerbating the humanitarian situation. How does this unstable political climate impacts efforts to achieve a just energy transition, and what strategies could help make progress despite these challenges?

The gradual phasing out of coal combustion without taking social and environmental issues into account is clearly one of the causes of the increase in armed conflicts. It affects the social fabric. To mitigate these conflicts, it is necessary to create policies that guarantee effective and inclusive local participation of the different actors involved in just transition programmes. In such a way that they can be involved in decision-making, while at the same time expanding and strengthening their capacity for action, to exercise effective control and governance in their territory.

Interview: Klaus Lüber (27 February 2025)