In the hegemonic discourse on energy transition, a techno-economic understanding predominates, reducing it to a technological change in the generation of energy by renewable and clean sources, and prioritising the construction of mega-projects in solar, wind or hydroelectric energy, without abandoning the exploitation of fossil fuels. Strong criticisms have been raised against this perspective, particularly from the territories most affected by mining-extractive projects, in indigenous, Afro-descendant and peasant voices, who demand a substantial transformation from and for the local level.
In the framework of a process of participatory research and dialogue of knowledge with four rural and ethnic communities in the coal regions of the departments of La Guajira, Cesar and Boyacá, this book explores these demands from three interrelated perspectives: (1) gender, (2) territory and (3) community sovereignty. Based on these axes of discussion, various grassroots impulses to build energy transitions beyond fossil fuels in Colombia are identified. Of these, three types of many are differentiated: (1) mining-extractive transitions, (2) energy democratisation and (3) broad and just transitions.
We thank the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Colombia (FESCOL), the Transnational Centre for Just Transitions in Energy, Climate and Sustainability (TRAJECTS) and the Editorial of the Universidad del Magdalena for all their support and dedication.