The winner of Colombia’s 2022 election, President Gustavo Petro, had phasing out fossil energy as a central part of his election campaign. Now the country’s left-wing government is fulfilling its election promise. Colombia has historically been highly dependent on oil and gas for its livelihood. According to the country’s climate minister, ten percent of the country’s GDP is linked to the export of coal and oil.
– We notice that the markets we sell to have started to lose interest. So we have to adjust the economy and use the adjustment to make ourselves more resistant to climate change and reduce our dependence on coal and oil, says Susana Muhamad on site at COP29 in Baku to SVT Nyheter.
Recently, President Gustavo Petro declared a national state of emergency after parts of the country were hit by massive floods. Climate change is something that reminds us daily, says Susana Muhamad:
– We see that the weather is more unpredictable, we suffer from drought at the same time as we get heavy downpours and there are more frequent fires. We are in a constant state of climate emergency, moving from one state of emergency to another.
The green transition is controversial in the country, but the climate minister believes that it is urgent and that there are no other options if the world is to be able to withstand climate change.
– The rich countries must meet the demands of the developing countries, otherwise it is a crisis for the entire climate agreement and we end up in a very serious situation.