Presentation short abstract

This communication examines environmental conflicts in Latin America using EJAtlas data. It highlights the extreme violence of disputes, the strong engagement of social movements and traditional communities, and the political gains resulting from socio-environmental struggles.

Presentation long abstract

The aim of this communication is to provide an overview of environmental conflicts in Latin America, comparing the region with the rest of the world. The database used is the EJAtlas, which records 4,334 environmental conflicts globally, 1,146 of which are in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Overall, the data show that environmental conflicts in Latin America are characterised by the predominance of mineral extraction as the main conflictive sector, extreme levels of violence, the prominent involvement of social movements and traditional communities, and significant political gains.

Regarding the economic and resource-use sectors that provoke conflict, the leading sector in Latin America is Mineral Ores and Building Materials Extraction, whereas in the rest of the world it is Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice/Energy.

In terms of violence, several indicators appear with greater intensity in Latin American conflicts compared with the rest of the world, including the criminalisation of activists, repression, the violent targeting of activists, and deaths.

As for the mobilising groups, local environmental justice organisations and neighbours, citizens and communities are the most frequent both in Latin America and elsewhere. The region’s specificity lies in the comparatively higher participation of Indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and social movements.

With respect to outcomes, several indicators present more positive results in Latin America than in other regions, including strengthening of participation, application of existing regulations, and favourable judicial decisions for environmental justice movements. Project cancellation, the principal positive outcome, displays similar levels in Latin America and the rest of the world.