extractive industries
Credit: Donna S/Flickr
Talbert Cypress: In Florida Everglades, our tribal conservation plan will end drilling in Big Cypress for good
The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida has a plan to stop the drilling and protect the aquifer.
Credit: U.S. Department of the Interior/ Jacob W. Frank/Flickr
Tough choices could make 2024 a wild ride for Interior
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Credit: IndustriALL Global Union/Flickr
Reports allege abuses by Glencore in Peru and Colombia, and the banks funding them
Mining giant Glencore continues to commit serious environmental and human rights violations in its mines in Peru and Colombia despite public promises to respect human rights and the environment, according to three news reports by advocacy organizations.
China to restrict graphite exports to United States as tech war escalates
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South American nations struggle with enforcing environmental cleanup laws
A review of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia's environmental laws highlights a “lack of political will” for enforcement.
In short:
- South American countries have adequate laws for environmental remediation.
- Enforcement of these laws is weak, however, leading to ongoing pollution.
- Experts call for stronger political commitment to protect ecosystems.
Key quote:
"There is no political will, and when this government or others say that they are trying to increase foreign investment from transnational companies, they do this by not requiring them to exercise adequate environmental control.”
— Pablo Fajardo, Ecuadorian lawyer.
Why this matters:
Environmental legislation is crucial for safeguarding public health and ecosystems. Both domestic and transnational fossil fuel companies have left a legacy of toxic pollution in South American countries like Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia, often with limited accountability for cleanup. The ongoing lack of transparency and yawning gap between policy and practice in South America has serious health implications for local communities and for local ecosystems.
Did you know: In the US alone, oil and gas production is responsible for $77 billion in annual health damages.
How can individuals influence their governments to enforce environmental laws more effectively?
AI-based tools helped produce this text, with human oversight and editing.
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