BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) 鈥� 鈥檚 outgoing environment minister warned Friday that the incoming government could reverse recent climate and conservation gains, pointing to its support for fracking and fossil fuel development and what she described as climate skepticism among some officials.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Environment Minister Irene V茅lez Torres said she fears Colombia could lose ground on climate action at a time when the country is already confronting increasingly severe environmental challenges, including a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that can disrupt rainfall patterns and trigger droughts, floods and extreme heat.
鈥淎rriving with an attitude of climate denialism is absolutely dangerous,鈥� V茅lez said.
The comments come weeks before President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella takes office on Aug. 7 following a narrow election victory that marked a sharp after four years under President . The outgoing administration sought to position Colombia as a global leader on climate diplomacy, Amazon protection and a transition away from fossil fuels.
During his campaign endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump, de la Espriella pledged to revive Colombia鈥檚 oil sector, voiced support for fracking and argued the country should make greater use of its natural resources to spur economic growth. Environmental advocates and some Indigenous leaders have warned that greater emphasis on extractive industries could increase pressure on environmentally sensitive areas, including parts of the Amazon rainforest.
About 42% of Colombia鈥檚 territory is covered by Amazon rainforest, and the Petro administration made rainforest protection and a transition away from fossil fuels central pillars of its environmental agenda.
Among V茅lez鈥檚 biggest concerns is the future of Indigenous environmental governance in the Amazon. She said she worries the incoming administration could weaken recent efforts to recognize Indigenous authorities as key environmental decision-makers and reduce support for Indigenous territorial governance initiatives.
She also expressed concern about the possible return of aerial glyphosate spraying of coca, the plant used to make cocaine, describing the herbicide as 鈥減otentially carcinogenic to humans鈥� and saying its use had caused lasting environmental and health impacts in Colombia.
V茅lez also warned about expanded fossil fuel development and mining in Colombia鈥檚 paramos, unique high-altitude wetlands that supply water to millions of people.
The incoming administration has rejected some of those characterizations. Fabio Arjona, the marine biologist chosen by de la Espriella to serve as environment minister, has said environmental debates should be less ideological, criticized what he called 鈥渆nvironmental hysteria鈥� and defended the possibility of fracking under strict controls while saying it should not occur in protected areas such as national parks and paramos.
Representatives for de la Espriella and Arjona did not respond to requests for comment before publication.
V茅lez said the change in government should not erase recent efforts to reduce deforestation, restore ecosystems and strengthen protections for wetlands, paramos and the Amazon.
鈥淲e have a legacy that, despite our differences, should be preserved,鈥� V茅lez said. 鈥淚t would be an unforgivable mistake to abandon this agenda simply because it comes from a different political sector. Social and environmental justice must remain at the center of the political agenda.鈥�
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