«We are experiencing an assault of economic interests to reduce Peru’s environmental regulatory capacity,» said César Gamboa, executive director of Law, Environment and Natural Resources (DAR), during his participation in the roundtable: «The just and popular energy transition as a solution to the boiling planet», in the Public Forum: Why leave fossil fuels in the ground in Peru? organized by the Citizens’ Movement against Climate Change – MOCICC and the Commission of Andean, Amazonian and Afro-Peruvian Peoples, Environment and Ecology of the Congress of the Republic.
The objective of this round table was to discuss the possibilities of a just and sustainable energy transition for Peru. In this context, Gamboa stressed that a broad national discussion is necessary to define what energy transition model we want to promote as a country, which has at least two priorities: to contribute to reducing the temperature at a global level and to reduce inequities in the country.
«Fifteen years ago, the IDB financed a loan to the Peruvian government to prepare a study on a new sustainable energy matrix for the country, which should at least be the starting point for discussing and analyzing these transition alternatives towards a cleaner but also more sustainable and equitable energy matrix.»
For this reason, it is a priority to highlight that the country’s energy transition cannot continue to work under the current model, with the same consumption patterns and inequities because it is unsustainable and inconsistent with Peru’s international climate commitments.
For this reason, legislative initiatives, such as the one promoted by PERUPETRO, through the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), to modify the Law of Natural Protected Areas to develop hydrocarbon activities in national parks such as Manu and Bahuaja Sonene or in the Pastaza Fan, the third largest carbon reserve on the planet and home to hundreds of native communities, It is unacceptable, especially because it has no environmental or social considerations and because of the serious environmental liabilities that hydrocarbon activity has in our country.
«In this sense, it is important to highlight some basic principles that should be considered by any legislative proposal that seeks to define a legal framework for public policies around the energy transition. At the very least, this proposal must consider the need to diversify the energy matrix, the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples, citizen participation, transparency in the sector and access to this public service for all Peruvians,» Gamboa emphasized.