EO organized a workshop in Muna, in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, to train indigenous representatives on social and environmental impact assessments; Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC); and Human Rights.
The training was conducted in partnership with the Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (CEMDA), and included the participation of more than 30 indigenous representatives.
The workshop was relevant for this community as they are involved in a conflict related to the proposed development of a 500MW solar energy project in their area of influence. In 2016, the Mexican government awarded a contract to develop a solar park on 762 hectares of jungle in the Yucatán Peninsula.
The objective was to train the community on FPIC monitoring tools, and to increase the community understanding of the Social Impact Assessment conducted by the company and approved by the Mexican Energy Ministry (SENER). The training was based on the EO100™ Standard for Responsible Energy Development.
The mega-project (named Ticul A and Ticul B), would become one of the largest solar in Latin America, and includes 1.2 million solar cells. The project was postponed, however, after indigenous members of the community filed a complaint before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, arguing that the Mexican government did not conduct an open and informed consultation with the community before awarding the project, as required by Mexican law.
Mexico’s energy laws mandate that the Energy Ministry (SENER) carry out a consulta previa to obtain prior and free consent from indigenous communities that could be affected by an energy project. Since the laws came into effect as part of Mexico’s energy reform in 2014, SENER has initiated 14 projects asking for consulta previa (13 of these affecting indigenous communities); Only 9 had secured consent, while the other 5 remain contested.
Even “clean” energy projects need to consider impacts on local stakeholders and ecosystems, and adopt effective engagement strategies to ensure the rights of communities and Indigenous Peoples are respected in the transition to renewable energy.
