Latin America arrives at COP31 embroiled in a race between renewables and fossil fuels
Summary written by AI from acento.com.do, not reviewed by a person. Original linked.
Latin America arrives at COP31 embroiled in a race between renewables and fossil fuels
Latin America is rapidly expanding its renewable energy capacity, yet it remains continuously dependent on fossil fuels as a complement rather than pursuing a complete replacement. This incomplete transition reveals the tension between the real growth of clean energy capacity and the political and structural resistance to definitively abandoning hydrocarbons—a process hindered by governments aligned with the traditional energy industry and by uncertain regulatory frameworks. The situation is further complicated by the presence of leaders who promote denialist policies or policies favorable to fossil fuels, thereby diluting the climate commitments made internationally. Despite the technological milestones achieved, many countries lack concrete targets and measurable timelines for phasing out fossil fuels, creating a significant gap between stated intentions and the actual actions required to ensure a fair and effective energy transition. This issue is crucial for understanding greenwashing, as it illustrates how sustainability discourse can mask the continuation of extractivism and the lack of deep decarbonization. The region risks presenting itself as a green leader while maintaining an expanding fossil fuel infrastructure, using advances in clean energy as a smokescreen to avoid the complete elimination of carbon emissions, thereby undermining the credibility of its global climate strategies.
Source: acento.com.doPublished on 2026-11-10