Energía, Cambio Climático y Posconflicto en Colombia

Energy, Climate Change and Post-Conflict Colombia

Colombia is among the countries in the world that will be most affected by climate change. It is vulnerable to increasing droughts, flooding and rising sea levels that could affect a range of economic sectors from agriculture to infrastructure. Climate change also poses a serious risk to the supply of affordable electricity. In 2016, the country generated 70 percent of power from hydroelectric dams, but this energy source is expected to become increasingly unreliable as climate change affects rainfall patterns. Colombia is looking to diversify its power sources by increasing energy from renewables such as wind and solar as well as natural gas and coal. The country has enormous renewable energy potential (18GW of wind energy in the Guajira peninsula alone) and significant gains have been made in cost effectiveness of renewables. The country must also meet growing demand. According to projections by the Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética, electricity demand will increase by as much as 5.7 percent in 2017 alone and continue to rise by approximately 2.8 percent annually until 2031. As part of the peace agreement, the government has also promised to expand electrification to remote areas of the country that have not been connected to the grid.

How can Colombia ensure secure electricity supplies in the face of climate change? How will the post-conflict plans for rural economic development impact the power sector? How does Colombia’s experience with energy security, rural electrification and climate change compare with other Latin American countries?

The Universidad del Rosario, in partnership with the Inter-American Dialogue, will host a private roundtable discussion with experts from the government, private sector, civil society and academia to discuss these questions. The discussion will inform the research agendas of the Universidad del Rosario and the Inter-American Dialogue’s Energy, Climate Change and Extractive Industries Program and provide an opportunity for exchange between academia, NGOs and the public and private sectors.

Speakers

Carlos Alberto Botero

Viceminister of Environment and Sustainable Development

Rutty Paola Ortiz Jara

Viceministra de Energía

Carlos García Botero

Deputy Director of Demand, Energy and Mining Planning Unit (UPME)

Luis Fernando Rico Pinzón

CEO & General Manager, ISAGEN

Lisa Viscidi

Directora del Programa de Energía, Cambio Climático e Industrias Extractivas

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