Parliamentarians from the Amazon Region Gather at the Congress of Colombia to Debate Alternatives to Oil and Gas Expansion in the Biome
Legislators from seven countries will convene at the Colombian Congress to discuss alternatives for advancing a just energy transition in the Amazon biome.
The meeting, to be held on August 21, comes amid a coordinated effort by congress members from Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador, who recently introduced simultaneous bills calling for an end to hydrocarbon exploitation in the Amazon.
The event will take place in the framework of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) meeting in Bogotá.
On Thursday, August 21, 2025, the Congress of the Republic of Colombia will host the third and final public hearing of the parliamentary inquiry into oil and gas exploitation in the Amazon, its socio-environmental impacts, and the alternatives to advance toward a just energy transition in the region.
The hearing will feature members of the Amazon Committee of the Parliamentarians for a Fossil Free Future network, led by Representatives Andrés Cancimance and Juan Carlos Losada (Colombia), along with legislators from Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Canada.
This meeting will take place within the framework of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), an intergovernmental forum central to policy coordination among the eight countries that share this biome. The alignment of both events aims to strengthen regional political dialogue and underscore the need for joint action to address the climate crisis.
“The Amazon is not only the environmental heart of South America, it is a pillar of global climate stability. This hearing is an opportunity to propose real solutions, stop fossil expansion, and secure a future of life for the region,” stated Representative Juan Carlos Losada.
“The Amazon faces a historic crossroads: continue down the path of fossil fuel dependence or advance toward a model of development that respects life, culture, and climate. This hearing is a crucial step to listen to communities, review the evidence, and build proposals that guarantee a sustainable future for the region and its peoples,” added Congressman Cancimance.
Regional Commitment to the Amazon
The event will be open to the public, with both in-person participation and live streaming, subject to prior registration. The hearing will bring together not only parliamentarians from the Amazon region, but also representatives of civil society, environmental organizations, and Indigenous leaders, who will share their perspectives and proposals to curb fossil frontier expansion and strengthen sustainable development alternatives in the Amazon.
This hearing takes place in the historic context of the recent simultaneous presentation of four bills by parliamentarians from Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil, aimed at preserving the Amazon and protecting it from oil and gas expansion.
During the session, the preliminary findings of the parliamentary inquiry launched in 2024 will be presented. These findings have shown that oil and gas exploitation in the Amazon is incompatible with life and with the economy. For decades, there has been a systematic violation of Indigenous peoples’ rights and a consistent omission of corporate responsibility for remedying the thousands of damages caused to the ecosystem.
This extractivism contributes to the degradation of the biome and pushes it closer to the point of no return. Alarmingly, there is potential for the industry to more than double in size, which would be catastrophic.
The inquiry is led by a committee of 12 parliamentarians from Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Canada, and seeks to support Amazonian states in fulfilling their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Parliamentarians for a Fossil-Free Future
