The South American country is not considering integrating itself IGNORE INTO the group that would stop using coal by 2030

Leer en español: Los logros de Colombia en el COP23

During the first two weeks of November, the world gathered to discuss how to implement the Paris Agreement. One of the most important decisions, after the Environmental Summit, was the creation of an alliance of 21 countries that will stop using coal as an energy resource by 2030. Within the group there are 4 Latin American countries: Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

Giovanni Pabón, coordinator of Mitigation Group at Climate Change Division of the Colombian Environment Ministry, explained to the Latin American Post that Colombia doesn’t possess the option of integrating itself due to the fact that coal still is an important element within its society.  

During the last season of “El Niño”, Colombia was in risk of rationing electricity due to the evaporation of the water within dams. Said regulation didn’t occur thanks to thermoelectric plants that use coal as their main source.

AILAC is an alliance of Latin American countries that represents a coalition in environmental issues in the world.

Colombia was the leader of three topics of the AILAC, Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean: National Determined Contributions, the Global Balance (how to evaluate the agreement implementations), and adjustments. The members of AILAC are Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, and Peru.

Pabón assured that during the event, the countries advanced in the details and the mandates of the Paris Agreement. “The most important issue is that we achieved agreements between countries and the differential issues that were in the agenda of some Asiatic countries didn’t persevere”.

Pabón also highlighted the presence of the governors from California, Virginia, Oregon, and Washington State at the event. This showed that, despite the decision of the president Donald Trump, many Americans are interested and worried about Climate Change.

Latin American Post | Santiago Gómez Hernández

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