Progressive Transition away
from fossil fuel extraction
POLEN TJ promotes a progressive, just, and planned reduction of Colombia’s dependence on fossil fuels. To this end, it analyzes the social, economic, political, and environmental implications of their extraction and use, both nationally and in producing territories.
Through applied research, regulatory analysis, and evidence generation, we seek to strengthen environmental regulation, bring visibility to the long-term impacts of extractive activities, and contribute to public decisions that enable progress toward a post-fossil future while protecting communities, territories, and the workers involved in this transformation.
Areas of Work
Progressive Reduction of Fossil Fuels
We generate evidence and recommendations to plan the progressive reduction of the extraction and use of coal, oil, and gas in a way that is compatible with climate commitments and the country’s economic and social realities.
Environmental and Health Impacts
We analyze the environmental and health impacts associated with the extraction and use of fossil fuels in order to strengthen public decisions, regulation, and environmental licensing processes.
Methane Emissions
We study fugitive methane emissions generated by coal mining and evaluate technologies, financial instruments, and policy measures that can reduce them.
Regulation and Public Policy
We formulate recommendations to strengthen the standards, environmental instruments, and policies needed to move forward with the progressive reduction of fossil fuels.
Territorial Implications of the Transition
We analyze the effects that the reduction of extractive activities may have on producing territories, their economies, their institutions, communities, and workers.
Cooperation for a Post-Fossil Future
We study financial, commercial, and technological cooperation mechanisms that can support Colombia and its territories in building alternatives to fossil fuel dependence.
How Does POLEN Work?
Our work brings together technical research, economic and regulatory analysis, field measurements, technology assessment, and public policy advocacy. We seek to ensure that the reduction of fossil fuels is evidence-based and implemented in a planned, participatory, and socially just manner.
Related Projects
Enabling Methane Mitigation Measures in the Coal Mining Sector in Colombia
This project develops the technical, biophysical, and economic foundations needed to reduce methane emissions from coal mining in Colombia.
To this end, it conducts fugitive emissions measurements in coal mines in Cundinamarca and Boyacá, builds marginal abatement cost curves, and evaluates mitigation technologies that could be implemented in the country.
The project also develops a financial model to analyze the effect of different financing and public policy instruments on the viability of these technologies. Based on its results, it will formulate feasible recommendations for implementing systems and mechanisms to reduce fugitive methane emissions in coal mining.
Related Publications
