5. South America

Abstract

This document contains aspects related to regulation issued in Colombia in the past year in regard to environmental protection within the view of sustainable development, international treaties, and international soft law instruments. The following presents laws, decrees, and resolutions issued by the Colombian Congress and by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development that extend from the introduction of new crimes against the environment, such as deforestation and ecocide in the Colombian Criminal Code, to the issuance of guidelines for the development of low-impact and environmentally sustainable agricultural activities in páramos. Similarly, reference is made to decisions of the Constitutional Court regarding the right of communities living close to projects of national interest to participate in said projects and to be considered within project decisions. Many relevant laws were adopted this year. Law 2099 declares green hydrogen, blue hydrogen, and geothermal energy projects as non-conventional renewable energy projects. It establishes tax incentives for electricity generation projects based on non-conventional renewable energy sources such as green hydrogen, blue hydrogen, and geothermal energy. Law 2099 adopts measures for the energy transition and the dynamization of the energy market through the use, development, and promotion of non-conventional energy sources.