Disputes of decarbonization – Ecuador between green extractivism and green state transformation

Thesis

The rise of national Green New Deals and net-zero policies suggests the emergence of green states as ecological stewards and facilitators of socio-economic transformations. However, current proposals face criticism for primarily focusing on decarbonization and the energy transition. The increasing demand for minerals gives way to a novel form of “green extractivism”, exacerbating environmental degradation and historic inequalities in the South. At the same time, green state theory has neglected analysing the possibility of green states in the South.

This thesis addresses these issues by examining how global pressure for decarbonization is appropriated by the Ecuadorian state to justify further extraction of minerals. It also illustrates forms of greening the state beyond decarbonization such as the promotion of alternative lifeworlds, ecological democracy, and green social movements. It does so through an analysis of a popular consultation against the expansion of mining in the Northern forests of Quito, the Chocó Andino. Based on document analysis, participant observation, and in-depth interviews with state officials, activists of the campaign Quito sin Minería, and researchers, this thesis outlines an emerging dispute between a “Green Extractivist State” and “Transformative Green State” in Ecuador.

For the former, state officials promote the increasing extraction of minerals for decarbonization and development, declaring rural peripheries as green sacrifice zones while continuing to obstruct forms of direct democracy by social movements. For the latter, Quito sin Minería uses the tool of the popular consultation as a form of direct democracy to push for transformative visions of green statehood. These are based on valuing life, promoting alternative forms of development and re-existence, and forming green social movements to defend the territory. Ultimately, this thesis highlights the importance of paying close attention to the implications of predominant proposals of decarbonization as well as the emergence green states in the South.

Authors: Lehnen, J

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-kzakey5gy
• Type of award: MPhil
• Level of award: Masters
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: socio-ecological transformation; re-existence; decarbonization; popular consultation; ecological democracy; neoextractivism; Ecuador; green extractivism; green state
• Subjects: Political ecology; Development studies