Partners of Mondiaal FNV in Colombia establish observatory for just energy transition

The climate crisis affects us all, including Colombia. And it’s precisely in this country of coal and oil that trade unions are doing their utmost to achieve a just energy transition, Patricio Sambonino, Mondiaal FNV consultant, tells us. By establishing the Just Transition Research Observatory, which Mondiaal FNV helped to accomplish, workers want to be able to present sound proposals to the government.

Closure of coal mines in Colombia

The Netherlands is a major importer of Colombian coal. What is more, the Netherlands is co-owner of the Cerrejón coal mine, says Patricio Sambonino, consultant for Mondiaal FNV in Colombia.

40 percent of our coal comes from Colombia. Since the government announced several years ago that it would be reducing the use of coal for energy, Colombia’s export has declined noticeably. Some of the mines already had to close down, which led to large groups of miners being made redundant.

Poor working conditions and obstruction of unions

The previous Colombian government was to a certain extent already actively engaged in energy transition, but it was mainly multinationals that were given the go-ahead to carry out ‘sustainable’ energy projects. With the result that exploitation and poor working conditions are still in evidence and, worse still, the local population is being driven out. It is moreover extremely difficult in Colombia for trade unions to enter into dialogue with the government and/or companies, who are often not open to it and obstruction of dialogue also occurs.

Widespread inequality between men and women

A total of 90,000 direct and indirect employers work in the oil sector in Colombia. Between 10 and 11% of the members of the three unions are women. Throughout the energy extractive industry there is widespread inequality between men and women.

Establishment of observatory for sustainable solutions

This can and must be done differently, was the unions’ opinion. Trade unions Sintracarbón (mining), Sintraelecol (energy) and USO (petroleum) as well as the local population, environmental and civil-society organisations, with support from Mondiaal FNV among others, together began exploring the issue of a just energy transition. This led to the creation of the Just Transition Research Observatory, an institute that not only carries out research into sustainable sources in Colombia and develops policy proposals on the subject of a just energy transition but which also tackles the massive inequality between men and women in the energy sector.

New: trade unions jointly establish the observatory

Sambonino is closely involved in the new observatory, called Cipame. In full: Centro de Innovación e Investigación para el Desarrollo Justo del Sector Minero Energético de Colombia. “This is the first time in the history of Latin America that trade unions have jointly established an observatory”, says Samonino. “The idea is to develop proposals on a just transition together with universities in Colombia and Berlin.

Labour rights are part and parcel of a just energy transition

One of these proposals is to assert labour rights, coupled with a broad perspective of the energy transition. Consequently, Cipame has developed a strategic proposal that contributes to the energy transition process in the country, but which at the same time protects the rights of workers in the industry sector. Furthermore, Cipame has brought its influence to bear on various universities, so that the workers’ opinions and proposals as well as their rights are also taken on board, and not only the technoscientific view of the universities and the government.”

Contribute to consultations on energy transition with government
The intention is not only for the observatory to carry out research, but also explicitly for the development of proposals to be presented to the government. “The tide is on our side”, he says, “because in June, the centre-left candidate Gustavo Petro won the presidential election. This gives us a greater chance of taking part in the talks on the energy transition.”

Unique combination of environment and labour rights

The new observatory means a lot to the trade unions in Colombia, Sambonino tells us. “it really is a new challenge. It is the first time that workers have combined a just transition with the environment and labour rights. In the past, the focus was only on labour rights. The government does not as yet have a policy on this issue, so now is the right moment to take part in the discussions. The observatory‘s vision is a very strong one thanks to the collaboration with the universities.”

Stopping fracking

Colombia is precisely a country where a just energy transition is so important, says Sambonino. Because it has oil fields, exports coal and itself consumes a lot of coal for its own energy supply. “One of the Observatory’s proposals is to stop fracking. This is a technique to increase the permeability of rock, making it easier to extract oil, natural gas or geothermal energy. Something that causes significant environmental damage and is extremely dangerous for the local communities, depriving them of their land and livelihood. This is currently the subject of much discussion in Colombia.”

Research into good alternatives to fossil fuels

Another discussion that is taking place is on good alternatives to fossil fuels. As yet no decision has been reached, says Sambonino. Research is still in full progress. “A precondition is that it must create new jobs. The new government seems to be open to  our conditions. We now await an invitation to continue discussions on the subject. We’re ready!”

Local population is important partner 

The collaboration between the various organisations and the local population is going well in Sambonino’s view. “In the fight with the companies the local population is our key partner. We maintain good relations. During the last miners’ strike, which went on for 97 days, the local population supported the strikers with food and other things they needed. And during the course of a fracking attempt, there was huge opposition from the local community, because the companies were destroying habitats, thus creating poverty for them. Fracking is now closely monitored. Not all workers are against fracking, because they also see that it can create jobs. However, the observatory is supporting the local communities in this fight.”

Tackling inequality between female and male workers

The observatory is also tackling the issue of inequality between female and male workers. We’ve even made a video about it”, Sambonino tells us. “The female leaders of the three unions concerned are strong. During the discussions on the structure of the board of the observatory, they demanded a 50/50 composition, and they were successful. The board now consists of three women and three men. This makes them fully part of the decision-making process.”

Good first step towards lessening dominance by men

The board’s motto is: A just transition is not possible without balanced participation. “The board is brand new, having only been constituted this year, and I’m curious as to the developments. It has been specified that in every new proposal, women are to be involved. They are pleased about this; they also firmly belief that this is really necessary. For the universities, too, this gender perspective is new. In Colombia, just like everywhere in Latin America, men are dominant. In that respect much still remains to be done, but here we’ve taken a good first step.”