Fossil Fuels
Latin America and Caribbean States
The Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC, Spanish: Asociación Independiente de Latinoamérica y el Caribe) is a coalition of Latin American and Caribbean nations that collaborate on specific issues as a bloc in international climate negotiations. Established during the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP18) in Doha, Qatar, AILAC was formed by Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Peru, Guatemala, and Panama, with the support of the Dominican Republic. The group diverged from the Group of 77 on certain matters, particularly regarding commitments for developing countries. AILAC positions itself as a "third way" in the climate change negotiations, bridging the North–South and rich–poor divides.
Stance on Fossil Fuels
Latin America and Caribbean nations (LAC) highly prioritize the importance of the sustainable
management of raw materials, however our stance on fossil fuels is quite pragmatic, as many
states seek to balance economic needs with climate action and the gradual phasing out of fossil
fuels. An example of this is that 12 of our countries belong to the High Ambition Coalition
(HAC), who seeks to eliminate inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, double finance for adaptation, and
follow the guidelines of the Paris Agreement. Whereas some other states, such as Brazil, plan to
continue fossil fuel development. In that vein, we place high value in expanding renewable
energy, which is demonstrated in our goal to triple our renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Regarding market based solutions LAC is a major proponent of carbon pricing to finance
adaptation and reduce emissions. Our stance on degrowth is that wealthier nations should lead
the way in reducing excessive consumption and committing to sustainable production, as that
will pave the way for a just and equitable global climate transition. Lastly, a key goal of ours is to
utilize sustainable resource extraction of our raw materials, such as lithium and copper, to avoid
environmental damage.
In 2023, Chile produced 9.4% of its primary energy from solar sources, which was the
highest globally.
Further Reading
Authors
Fin Spee, Maartje de Koeijer
