Leiden University Student Repository

Waterhout, Jerike (2020)

Energy policy and environmental protection in Ecuador: Analysis of the causes and consequences of the failure of the Yasuní-ITT Initiative

Master thesis | Latijns-Amerikastudies (BA)

This paper consists of an analysis of the failure of the Yasuní-ITT Initiative, examining the internal and external factors that influenced the Initiative’s development, progress and subsequent failure. The Yasuní-ITT Initiative was introduced under the Correa government as an environmental project that proposed to discontinue oil extraction in part of the Yasuní National Park in Ecuador, in turn for financial compensation from the international community. As such, it had the opportunity to set an example of global collaboration in conservation by proposing to share the costs and benefits of conservation internationally. While attempting to find an explanation for the Initiative’s failure, this paper taps into the highly topical dilemma between ecologism and economism as faced by the Ecuadorian government.

Energy policy

Yasuní-ITT Initiative

Environmental policy

Ecologism vs. economism

Extractivism

Oil exploitation

Ecuador

Yasuní National Park

Author

Waterhout, Jerike

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Public Policies

Supervisors

Amann, Edmund

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en