The left wing victory is a major breakthrough, but it will have a limited impact on greenhouse gas emissions
Election rally in Colombia | Juan Barreto/AFP)
The Colombia elections of 19th June 2022 marked a turning point for the country’s politics. It was the first defeat of the right wing pro-business establishment in the country’s history.
Millions of Colombians are hoping that newly elected President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Márquez will bring about real improvements to their lives.
Petro’s main climate policy was a promise to end all exploration for oil and gas. In reality, this is a very unambitious policy. Most of Colombia’s exports are made up of crude oil and coal briquettes. Reducing these exports and the associated income for the government is what is really needed.
President Petro’s modest reform policies
Petro won the election despite being demonized by the right wing establishment. Even his relatively modest reforms will be difficult to achieve, given the fractured nature of political representation in the house of representatives and the senate.
In the next few years, the government’s prospects will depend on how many of the tax reforms and new social programs on jobs, education, health and social welfare Petro can get approved by the congress.
In the longer term, without major interventions in the economy to boost investments, or huge external funding support, Colombia will be unable to generate enough wealth to make a significant impact on poverty. Nor, short of a major economic collapse, will it be able to bring down greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel exports to levels required by a fair transition.
Left victory in Colombia
The Colombia elections of 19th June 2022 marked a turning point for the country’s politics. It was the first defeat of the right wing pro-business establishment in the country’s history.
Millions of Colombians are hoping that newly elected President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Márquez will bring about real improvements to their lives.
Petro’s main climate policy was a promise to end all exploration for oil and gas. In reality, this is a very unambitious policy. Most of Colombia’s exports are made up of crude oil and coal briquettes. Reducing these exports and the associated income for the government is what is really needed.
President Petro’s modest reform policies
Petro won the election despite being demonized by the right wing establishment. Even his relatively modest reforms will be difficult to achieve, given the fractured nature of political representation in the house of representatives and the senate.
In the next few years, the government’s prospects will depend on how many of the tax reforms and new social programs on jobs, education, health and social welfare Petro can get approved by the congress.
In the longer term, without major interventions in the economy to boost investments, or huge external funding support, Colombia will be unable to generate enough wealth to make a significant impact on poverty. Nor, short of a major economic collapse, will it be able to bring down greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel exports to levels required by a fair transition.