Giant wind turbines in Colombia’s La Guajira region promise renewable energy but face resistance from the Indigenous Wayuu, who fear disruption to their sacred lands and way of life.
Steven Grattan reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Colombia aims to generate 15 gigawatts of wind energy in La Guajira, but many projects are stalled due to Wayuu opposition over environmental and cultural concerns.
- The Wayuu, who follow traditional governance and spiritual customs, say inadequate consultation and land disputes have heightened tensions with developers.
- Offshore wind farms are also planned, alarming Wayuu fishers who depend on the sea for their livelihood.
Key quote:
“The Wayuu defend their territory with blood and death, if necessary.”
— Aníbal Mercado, regional Wayuu council leader
Why this matters:
La Guajira, a sun-scorched peninsula in northern Colombia, has become a focal point in the country’s push for renewable energy. With its powerful winds and abundant sunshine, the region is an ideal setting for wind and solar farms, key to Colombia’s strategy for reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. But this transition has sparked tensions with the Indigenous Wayuu people, who see the land, sea, and wind not just as resources but as fundamental elements of their cultural and spiritual identity.
The conflict reflects a larger global dilemma: how to expand renewable energy infrastructure without perpetuating historical injustices against Indigenous communities. Around the world, similar disputes have unfolded — from wind farms in Mexico’s Isthmus of Tehuantepec to solar projects in Australia’s Western Desert — where local communities have found themselves sidelined in the name of green development.
Related: Wind farm plans in Chile raise environmental concerns
