Vulnerabilities, constraints, and opportunities of energy transition in Colombia: a structuralist approach

This chapter presents a general overview of the macroeconomic and environmental characteristics of the Colombian economy. The main thread of the analysis seeks to establish the structural specificities of the economy and the institutional constraints that define the initial conditions for shaping an ordered and sustainable process of decarbonisation of productive activities. This characterisation is fundamental for situating the expectations and objectives of adaptation to climate change in the short, medium, and long term. Taking a holistic view of the transformation processes—which includes adapting different theoretical models—, the responsibilities of institutional actors are evaluated in terms of their use of material and energy resources, as well as their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This evaluation takes place within the framework of structural feasibility for transformation, the limits of which are defined by the three gaps of the economy: the external sustainability gap (growth restricted by the balance of payments); the social gap (the need to overcome levels of inequality and poverty); and the environmental gap (requirements to achieve environmental efficiency targets and fulfil Paris Agreement commitments to reduce GHG emissions by 2030).