Working Group on Development and Environment in the Americas

The Working Group on Development and Environment in the Americas is a multi-university effort coordinated by the Center for Transformation Research (CENIT) in Argentina, the Research Center of the University of the Pacific (CIUP) in Peru, the Boston University Global Economic Governance Initiative (GEGI) and Tufts University’s Global Development and Environment Institute (GDAE).

Composed of university-based researchers from across the hemisphere conducted eight country studies, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru, the Working Group posed two research questions. First, to what extent has China independently driven environmental and social change in Latin America? Secondly, to what extent do Chinese firms perform differently from their domestic and foreign counterparts when they invest in Latin America? Their research revealed that Chinese trade and investment in Latin America since the turn of the 21st century was a major driver of environmental degradation in the region and also a source of significant social conflict.

This work was supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.


Research Highlights

From Resource Curse to Renewable Futures? Chinese Investment and a Just Transition in Latin America
Copper Mine, Chile. Photo by Jose Luis Stephens via Shutterstock.

Latin America’s wealth of transition minerals positions it as a key supplier of the raw materials necessary for renewable energy generation. However, despite GDP growth due to commodity exports, past resource cycles in Latin America have resulted in environmental degradation, social conflict and economic fragility rather than broad-based development. Therefore, a just energy transition in the region requires efforts to move beyond raw resource extraction toward well-regulated commodity sectors. Equally important, it must ensure that the benefits of renewable energy generation and related technologies are broadly shared, with equitable access to the opportunities and resources generated across social groups.

A new policy brief aims to distill lessons and generate actionable recommendations for steering the China–Latin America relationship toward a just energy transition. The paper summarizes findings from a working paper series produced by the Universidad del Pacífico Centro de Estudios Sobre China y Asia-Pacífico (CECHAP) and the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, looking at national trends and policy frameworks in four Latin American countries—Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru—in energy transition-related sectors with particular attention to Chinese engagement.

Read the Policy Brief 阅读政策简报 Lee el documento Read the Working Paper Series

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