Colombia’s government is doubling down on its promises to protect the environment with plans to increase forest protection and mitigate climate change, even as it sends mixed signals about its controversial proposal to halt oil exploration. The government of Gustavo Petro, who took office in August last year, moved swiftly to ratify the Escazú Accord, a regional environmental agreement, in October. (See "Escazú Agreement is ratified by Colombia" —EcoAméricas, October 2022.) He promised at the COP27 climate talks in Egypt to spend US$200 million annually on reforestation efforts to help protect the Amazon. And his national development plan calls for greater emphasis on the role of water and ecosystems in economic planning. Petro’s proposals have won praise from environmentalists, and experts say they could mark a shift toward a more sustainable economy. “His environmental agenda is very ambitious... [Log in to read more]