Colombia has increasingly recognised that climate considerations should guide public policies, highlighting the central role of environment stewardship and biodiversity in the country’s development agenda. The megadiverse and resource-rich country aspires to be a “powerhouse of life”, anchoring its development model in sustainability, social inclusion and the conservation of its exceptional biodiversity.

In recent years, Colombia has positioned itself as an ambitious environmental leader in Latin America and the Caribbean, and globally. From bold climate targets to global advocacy on protecting biodiversity and the Amazon, Colombia has helped shape important environmental debates. The central question is whether these ambitions can be sustained and translated into lasting outcomes for human well-being and ecological resilience. Key environmental issues now dominate political discussions: the risk of electricity and gas shortages, rising energy tariffs, hydrocarbon exploration, renewable energy deployment and socio-environmental conflicts related to consultation processes. These debates underscore the central challenge for the country: how to ensure energy security while advancing its decarbonisation and environmental objectives.

The latest OECD Environmental Performance Review of Colombia provides analysis and robust data for assessing the country’s progress and offers a timely stocktake of achievements and remaining challenges.

Colombia’s environmental ambitions are remarkable. The country aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, compared to business-as-usual, and has established a legally binding net‑zero target for 2050. Climate adaptation has also moved up the policy agenda, supported by a comprehensive system of indicators and an emphasis on nature-based solutions that create synergies with biodiversity conservation and land restoration.

The 2024 Roadmap for a Just Energy Transition sets out a multi-sector pathway to reduce fossil fuel dependence while promoting economic diversification, social inclusion and environmental protection. It signals an exit from coal in electricity generation by 2035 and targets a doubling of renewable energy share in total energy supply by 2050, notably through bioenergy and solar expansion.

Hosting around 10% of global biodiversity, Colombia has developed a sophisticated policy framework for biodiversity conservation. An updated National Biodiversity Action Plan sets clear targets and monitoring tools, while innovative instruments, such as payments for ecosystem services and biodiversity offsets, have mobilised funding and supported local livelihoods.

Reducing deforestation remains central to climate and biodiversity objectives. Natural forest loss has fallen since its 2017 peak, reaching a low in 2023. This progress has resulted from stronger enforcement against illegal activities driving deforestation, improved inter-ministerial co-ordination and advances in implementing the 2016 Peace Agreement. Deforestation targets range from 49 999 hectares by 2035 under Colombia’s latest Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), to 33 000 hectares per year in the National Biodiversity Action Plan, and net-zero deforestation by 2030. The OECD Environmental Performance Review recommends aligning these targets to ensure a clear, credible policy trajectory and effective monitoring.

In 2025, Colombia exceeded the 30x30 target for marine conservation five years ahead of schedule, with nearly half (47%) of its exclusive economic zone under protection. Terrestrial targets are broadly on track. These achievements place Colombia well above the OECD average for protected areas. To sustain progress, the OECD Review recommends strengthening sustainable financing for biodiversity conservation and ensuring adequate benefit-sharing and technical support for contributing communities. 

Beyond its borders, Colombia has played a visible role in international environmental co-operation. The country hosted the 16^th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) in Cali, promoted stronger collaboration to protect the Amazon, and advanced greater transparency and traceability in extractive supply chains. At the same time, Colombia has propelled global conversations on the future of fossil fuels, including efforts to initiate negotiations on a fossil-fuel non-proliferation treaty. This stance is particularly notable for a country that remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels for public revenue, exports and economic activity.

Colombia presents the Belém Declaration and convenes a global conference on fossil fuels. Credit: Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de Colombia.

Yet, the OECD Environmental Performance Review highlights persistent and growing environmental pressures. Achieving Colombia’s climate targets requires steep emissions reductions, particularly from deforestation and agriculture, as well as curbing fast rising transport emissions. Agriculture, notably extensive livestock, drives around three-quarters of deforestation, with associated biodiversity and habitats loss. This underscores the broader challenge of aligning environmental objectives with land-use practices. The OECD Review recommends accelerating the implementation of the Catastro Multipropósito to improve land tenure, integrating land-use planning across governance levels and advancing the roadmap for green agricultural finance by eliminating biodiversity‑harmful incentives.

Colombia’s energy transition involves complex trade-offs, reshaping fiscal structures, export models and regional labour markets. Expanding electricity and non-conventional renewables offers long-term gains in diversification, productivity and resilience to energy price shocks. Transitioning to a cleaner energy mix is essential for meeting mitigation targets and reducing local environmental impacts. Yet, the latest National Energy Plan (PEN) remains misaligned with NDC goals. Decisive policies on fiscal reform, green investment, reskilling and local engagement are required to translate challenges into sustainable opportunities.

A recurring message of the OECD Review is that implementation is the real bottleneck. Colombia has taken pioneering steps to align finance with climate and biodiversity goals, including the 2022 Green Taxonomy, issuance of green bonds and sustainability-linked credit lines. However, price signals remain misaligned: environment-related taxes fall short of their potential, and fossil fuel subsidies keep effective carbon rates negative, resulting in subsidising CO₂ emissions. Fossil fuel investment continues to outpace clean energy, underscoring the need for stronger disclosure by the financial sector and improved monitoring, reporting and verification. Limited fiscal space, fragmented institutional responsibilities and capacity constraints continue to slow progress. Strengthening co-ordination across sectors and levels of government, backed by adequate, well-targeted finance is critical to turning ambition into sustainable outcomes.

The OECD Environmental Performance Review sends a clear signal: while solid foundations exist, substantial reforms and sustained effort are needed to deliver results. The challenge is not to reinvent policy, but to strengthen, scale and better align existing ones with environmental objectives. The policy choices made in the coming years will determine whether Colombia’s leadership is defined by commitments made or by tangible improvements on the ground.

OECD Environmental Performance Reviews assess countries’ progress towards their environmental objectives and international commitments. They promote policy dialogue, peer learning and accountability, engaging not only governments, but also civil society and the wider public.

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On 28 January, OECD Environment Deputy Director Mathilde Mesnard launched the second OECD Environmental Performance Review of Colombia alongside Edith Bastidas, Vice Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development in Bogotá. Watch the replay of the launch event and find a summary of the key findings and recommendations.