The multiple injustice of fossil fuel territories in the Ecuadorian Amazon: Oil development, urban growth, and climate justice perspectives

Alongside growing awareness of the historical and ethical dimensions of climate change impacts, little is known about those territories both sources of fossil fuel extraction as well as not beneficiaries of its benefits, usually located in developing countries. Our study frames climate justice in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR), defined as urban jungle, due to urbanization processes linked to oil exploitation. By highlighting the multiple injustices for local communities, the general aim is showing how these areas are at the same time peripheries of fossil fuel extraction and national benefits, while also being entangled with the socio-environmental impacts caused and increased by oil activities. The methodology is based on spatial analysis carried out in GIS environment, combining different features (oil production, urban infrastructure, socio-environmental impacts), at different spatial and temporal scales. Results show that, since the beginning of oil exploitation in 1972 and until 2020, about 6.4 billion barrels were produced in the EAR, in 34 oil blocks located in the central-north sector. Moreover, between 1985 and 2020, oil exploited EAR has continued to be the most urbanized part, surrounding and involving indigenous territories and ethnic population in voluntary isolation. Finally, the results highlight the high density of recorded oil spills, pits and gas flaring sites in historically exploited oil block, and the extensive distribution of seismic lines in all the EAR, far from human rights obligations of enjoying a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. In conclusion, our analyses highlight the multiple injustices of these territories. Hence climate justice should embrace these territories in its perspectives, by involving them in the climate justice discourse and promoting the rights for a non-toxic environment. By doing so, scholars, stake-holders and policymakers might frame clear and just phasing out fossil fuel strategies.

Automated summary

This study examines climate justice in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR), highlighting the multiple injustices caused by oil extraction activities. Using spatial analysis, the study shows that the EAR has been a major producer of oil since 1972, leading to environmental impacts such as oil spills and pollution. The results emphasize the need to include these territories in climate justice discussions and promote the rights to a non-toxic environment.