Green colonialism and decolonial feminism: A study of Way & uacute;u women's resistance in La Guajira

This qualitative study scrutinises how green energy investment affects Indigenous Wayuu people in Colombia's La Guajira region. Employing coloniality of power and decolonial feminism frameworks, we delve into Wayuu women's struggles and resilience in defending territories against large-scale wind energy projects. Our findings suggest that governments and businesses are 'tuned in' to the economic benefits of these projects, yet 'tuned out' from Indigenous peoples' ontologies, concerns, needs and cosmovisions. This dynamic prompts questions about the unintended consequences of organisations' engagement with Indigenous peoples through corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies. Despite good intentions, CSR practices that are 'tuned out' from Indigenous peoples' cosmovisions may inadvertently reinforce power imbalances and further marginalise Indigenous communities. Our study highlights the need to honour Indigenous territories and protect Indigenous women's rights in long-term investments. Clean energy focus can mask green colonialism, which Wayuu women actively safeguard, upholding Indigenous worldviews via feminist decoloniality. We advocate for businesses to incorporate diverse perspectives beyond the dominant western worldview into their climate change mitigation actions and CSR strategies, and for public policies to balance decarbonisation efforts with Indigenous rights to contribute to sustainable and equitable energy transitions.

Automated summary

This qualitative study examines the impact of green energy investment on the Indigenous Wayuu people in Colombia's La Guajira region. Using coloniality of power and decolonial feminism frameworks, the study explores the struggles and resilience of Wayuu women in protecting their territories against large-scale wind energy projects. The findings suggest that while governments and businesses prioritize the economic benefits of these projects, they often disregard the concerns and cosmovisions of Indigenous peoples. This disregard can perpetuate power imbalances and marginalize Indigenous communities, highlighting the importance of considering Indigenous rights and perspectives in long-term investments.