Right-wing criminal defense lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella won Colombia’s presidential runoff on June 21, paving the way for a political U-turn that will likely involve a hasty retreat from current leftist President Gustavo Petro’s ambitious environmental agenda. De la Espriella, an admirer of Donald Trump who has pledged to boost fossil-fuel exploration and production, narrowly defeated left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda in a runoff. Scheduled to take office Aug. 7, he is expected to abandon Petro administration priorities such as a quick transition to renewable fuels and Amazon rainforest conservation. Under the four-year administration of Petro, who was prevented by the constitution from seeking reelection, Colombia has positioned itself as a leader in forest protection and climate action. His government oversaw a decline in Colombian forest loss to its lowest levels in years, suspended new oil and gas exploration contracts nationwide, and in April hosted... [Log in to read more]