Despite a public vote a year ago to stop oil drilling in Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park, the government has requested a five-year extension before fully closing operations, frustrating Indigenous communities.
Steven Grattan reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Ecuadorians voted to halt oil drilling in Yasuni National Park, but the government has delayed implementation, seeking a five-year extension.
- Indigenous groups, especially the Waorani, are angry, accusing the government of disregarding their rights and health concerns.
- Experts argue that dismantling oil operations within a year was unrealistic, given Ecuador's economic struggles and dependence on oil revenue.
Key quote:
"They are using a bunch of technical arguments, but it seems like they are just trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes and it’s very clear that they want to continue to extract oil and get all the oil they can out of those fields before they close them."
— Kevin Koenig, climate and energy director, Amazon Watch
Why this matters:
Continued oil drilling threatens one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth and undermines Indigenous rights. Delays in halting operations pose long-term risks to both the environment and public health.
Read more: Ecuador faces challenge in ending oil extraction in national park
