The principal aim of the OECD Environmental Performance Review (EPR) programme is to help Member countries and selected partner countries improve their individual and collective performance in environmental management by:
helping countries assess progress in achieving their environmental goals
promoting continuous policy dialogue and peer learning
stimulating greater accountability from governments towards each other and public opinion.
This is the second EPR of Colombia. It examines the country’s environmental performance since the previous review in 2014. Progress in achieving domestic objectives and international commitments provides the basis for assessing Colombia’s environmental performance. Such objectives and commitments may be broad aims, qualitative goals or quantitative targets. A distinction is made between intentions, actions and results. Assessment of environmental performance is also placed within the context of Colombia’s historical environmental record, present state of the environment, physical endowment in natural resources, economic conditions and demographic trends.
The OECD is grateful to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development for providing the response to the questionnaire and additional information and comments, organising the review mission (23-25 April 2025) and virtual policy mission (17 July 2025), as well as for facilitating contacts inside and outside government institutions. Thanks are also due to the representatives of the examining countries – Eugenia Arguedas and Catalina Esquivel Vargas (Costa Rica) and Karine Hertzberg (Norway) – for participating in the review.
The authors of this report are Ivana Capozza, Kathleen Dominique, Shuli Nezer, Jolien Noels and Maria Adelaida Rojas Lleras of the OECD Environment Directorate, under the co-ordination of Kathleen Dominique. Nathalie Girouard provided oversight and guidance. Maria Adelaida Rojas Lleras also provided research, statistical and co-ordination support for the review. Louise Sieg provided cartographic support. Natasha Cline-Thomas supported communications activities. Lydia Servant provided administrative support. Mark Foss copy-edited the report. Preparation of this report also benefitted from inputs and comments from Bopha Chhun, Laura Gutierrez, Raphaël Jachnik, Michael Koelle, Katia Karousakis, Sarah Miet, Mauro Migotto, Daniel Nachtigall, Edward Perry, Laura Elizabeth Jane Smith, Andrzej Suchodolski, Klas Wetterberg, German Zarama and Frédérique Zegel of the OECD Secretariat.
The OECD Working Party on Environmental Performance discussed the Environmental Performance Review of Colombia at its meeting on 7 October 2025. It reviewed and expressed support for the Assessment and Recommendations.