SIANI’s expert group on Land Rights in Latin America recently held a series of meetings in Bogotá, Colombia, with policymakers, regional specialists and civil society groups. The aim was to raise awareness of the link between land rights, conflicts and food security, which remains one of Latin America’s greatest challenges.
Throughout its existence, the SIANI expert group on land rights, supported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), has been a tireless advocate for a regional response to climate justice. Consisting of 20 Latin American experts from ten countries, the group is well placed to bring together a broad range of stakeholders.
On 13-14 August, the expert group was part of the event ‘Environmental and Climate Justice and the Dynamics of Violence in Latin America’, organised in Bogotá by SIPRI, Friedrich Ebert Foundation’s Colombia office (FESCOL) and SIANI. Bringing together participants from civil society organisations, government, the diplomatic community and the United Nations, the event centred on the connection between armed conflict, land-use change and climate justice.
The topics were explored from various perspectives but with an emphasis on finding strategies for balancing the interests of different stakeholders in the region. Carlos de Miguel, Director of the Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Division at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, delivered a keynote address at one of the events, which focused on his agency’s implementation of the regional Escazú agreement.
The participants discussed the need to foster regional exchange, especially involving the Amazon area and Colombia, and challenges linked to the green transition. The SIANI expert group has previously warned that Europe’s climate ambitions could have unintended negative consequences in Latin America, a concern that was echoed at the conference. Many wanted to see more discussions about the scope and framing of the green transition, democracy, civic space and financial instruments. This could for example be achieved by engaging civil society ahead of the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) to be held in Belém, Brazil on 10-21 November.
Read more about the event here: SIPRI co-hosts policy events on climate justice in Colombia | SIPRI
