Recent trends in environmental justice and socio-ecological conflicts in latin america.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63618/omd/revinvlid/v2/n2/31Keywords:
environmental justice, socio-ecological conflicts, extractivism, citizen participation, Latin AmericaAbstract
The expansion of extractive industries and the unequal distribution of their benefits and burdens have intensified socio-ecological conflicts in Latin America, disproportionately affecting rural communities, indigenous peoples, and environmental defenders. The study aimed to analyze recent trends in environmental justice during 2020–2025, using Ecuador as a regional case study. A qualitative, documentary, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and exploratory study was conducted through a review of scientific literature, conflict records, institutional reports, and public resolutions. The results showed that Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru accounted for 70.2% of the records examined, while mining, fossil fuels, biomass, land, and water together accounted for 86.1% of Andean conflicts. The main impacts included the deterioration of livelihoods, cultural loss, and territorial dispossession; furthermore, petitions, protests, and communication campaigns predominated. The discussion highlighted a gap between formal participation, legal recognition, and substantive compliance, despite the support obtained in the Yasuní and Chocó Andino consultations. It was concluded that effective environmental justice requires the redistribution of burdens, recognition of collective rights, protection of defenders, and verifiable reparations.
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