Freshwater Sources

Voices for the Motagua River: Olga Vázquez, hands that shape hope

Stories of courage, dignity, and resistance for life in the face of pollution in Guatemala’s longest river.For generations, clay was the heart of Santa Cruz Chinautla. It emerged from the earth as a daily gift, was shaped by patient hands, and transformed into pots, jugs, whistles, and comales that were taken to the markets in the capital.There, between the river and the wood-fired kilns, doña Olga Noemí Vázquez grew up. From childhood, she learned the art of pottery from her mother. Today, at nearly sixty years old, she continues to work with clay, but the craft is no longer the same. Clay is scarce, the river smells like sewage, and her hands crack from the chemicals carried by the polluted water.Doña Olga fondly recalls how she first got into pottery. "I learned it when I was ten years old. My mom taught me. I wanted to make different shapes and styles, because sometimes tourists would bring different figurines, and here we’d try to imitate them," she says from the small workshop she’s set up in her home. Every piece she creates is an act of remembrance, a way to resist oblivion and the loss of the landscape and her livelihood.He also recalls that in the past, the town's inhabitants didn't go to the capital to work. "We made our living right here. We grew vegetables, güisquiles, and corn. Everything was produced right here. And we made a living from clay. Today, it’s not like that anymore." Photo: Mayela Sánchez García. From drainage to destruction The change was slow, like a tide that rises without you noticing. First came the drainage systems. Then, the trucks. The city’s trash found its final destination in Chinautla. "There was nowhere else to dump it, so they dumped it on us," she says. That’s how the tragedy began: the rivers turned into channels of waste, the banks became covered in gray crusts, and the odors became unbearable, especially during the rainy season. "The river carries all the trash from Zone 3. It smells awful. There’s no clean clay anymore; we can’t dig it up as we used to."The 1976 earthquake left a mark on the town’s memory, but it was systematic neglect that ultimately disfigured the landscape. The municipal government, she says, moved from Santa Cruz to Zone 6, and since then the town has been left without any real representation. "There’s no mayor here. They come here to put up their campaign posters, they hold office, but they’re never here. They’ve never taken us into account," she laments.  Women who resist In the face of institutional silence, associations, collectives, and struggles emerged. Among them was the Chinautla Women’s Association. "We organized because if we didn’t, we would have been left with nothing. The clay was running out, the sand miners were advancing, and the river was washing everything away. The women here don’t go to the capital to work. They make pottery at home and take care of their children. If we ran out of clay, we’d have no life left."In 2010, disaster struck with full force. Two rivers, Las Vacas and Chinautla, overflowed due to the accumulation of sand that had been extracted without any controls. The water swept away a bridge. The community banded together and built another one with their own hands. The municipality did not cooperate. "That bridge is in ruins, but we, the neighbors, built it. Otherwise, we’d still be cut off."Sand mining has become their most persistent enemy. "The sand miners are wearing us down. They take out tons and tons of sand every day. Our clay is gone with them. We’re left with almost nothing. And what little remains is contaminated," he says. The damage isn’t limited to the landscape—people’s health is suffering as well.  Photo: Mayela Sánchez García. The value of words and justice The expansion of businesses, the passivity of the authorities, and social erosion have caused divisions within the town. "Politics has planted ideas in people’s minds. There are thousands of residents, but only 500 support us. The rest don’t cooperate. They don’t understand that this isn’t about a political party—it’s about our town," she explains.In recent years, the women’s association has joined forces with the town’s ancestral authorities. Together, they have succeeded in opening channels of dialogue with government ministries, halting the renewal of extractive licenses, and bringing the conflict to the government's attention. The 2025 ruling, handed down after years of legal battles, was a ray of hope amid the neglect. A court ordered the municipality to assume its environmental responsibility. For the first time, someone listened. "Thanks to that ruling, a businessman was stopped. His license hasn’t been renewed. It wasn’t like that before: you’d go to talk to them, and the ministers only thought about making a profit. Now, at least, they listen to us."The future is uncertain. Drinking water is delivered only once every eight days. Mining permits can be renewed at any time. The river continues to carry trash. But there’s one thing doña Olga is not willing to lose: her dignity. "I advise women to get involved, to stay informed. We can’t just stay at home without knowing what politicians, businesspeople, and ministers are doing. If you get involved, you’ll find out. And once you know, you’ll fight."When asked what Chinautla was like 50 years ago, her eyes fill with lost images: girls playing in the street, clean water flowing over stones, women shaping clay at sunset. "It was peaceful," she says. “It was ours.” Today, amid pollution and plundering, Chinautla endures thanks to women like her, who continue to shape its history with clay, memory, and courage.  

Voices for the Motagua River: Nazario Pascual, an artery of the Poqomam people

Stories of courage, dignity, and resistance for life in the face of pollution in Guatemala’s longest river.Nazario Pascual needs no embellishments to define himself: "I am a Poqomam warrior who uses music and sung poetry to plant a little seed in people’s minds. I am an artery of the Poqomam people."A musician, cultural promoter, and independent producer, Nazario lives in Santa Cruz Chinautla, a community affected by pollution in the Motagua River. From there, he sings in Poqomam so that his language will not disappear, and so that the children who listen to him will grow up knowing that the river, too, has a memory.His journey began in the church pews, watching his father play. But it was an intimate moment that ignited the spark: one night, he heard his dad praying in Poqomam. "I thought, ‘Wow, God hears us in Poqomam. It’s your heritage.’ That’s where I started." The landscape that took away his childhood When Nazario talks about his childhood, he describes fruit trees, springs, and a communal washhouse where mothers washed clothes while the children played. Today, all of that is gone.The uncontrolled expansion of the capital and the diversion of stormwater to the Zone 3 landfill have turned the river into an open wound. Added to this are the sand pits that extract material without any oversight: "They’ve eaten away at a large part of the Poqomam territory. Here we call it ‘black gold.'"His family has lost their land dozens of times. When it rains in the city, the smells reach Chinautla even if not a single drop falls there. Houses are sinking, the ground is cracking, and residents are being displaced."The river is a monster coming from the city," he says.  Photo: Mayela Sánchez García. A legacy of struggle, but also of weariness Nazario inherited his father’s conviction to protest. He took part in demonstrations, organized meetings, and, together with others, built a retaining wall under the red bridge with community support. But he also bears the weight of so many years: "At first there were 17 of us at the protests, then 12, then 7, and now barely 4."An aunt told him straight out: "Don’t try to be a folk hero." The remark made him reflect on the limits of commitment… and on the need for new forms of resistance.  Seeds that sing Nazario found that new path in music. He formed a band with his cousins and later began working with children. Together, they write lyrics about the river, compose melodies, and sing in Poqomam. That’s how "Mamut" was born—one of the songs sung in the community today."Getting children and young people involved is the small contribution I’m trying to make,” he explains. “They’re the ones who will remain here." Photo: Mayela Sánchez García. A message that endures Nazario knows the problem is bigger than he is. The Motagua River carries trash that ends up in the Caribbean, affecting entire communities. But he also believes that local struggles have power."It’s understandable to go to work—because we have to—but we shouldn’t be indifferent to what’s happening in the town."He fears that the real plan of the polluting and extractive industries is to wipe the Poqomam people off the map. But he dreams of a different story:"I imagine Chinautla with the river stabilized, children growing up in a dignified environment, knowing their rights and fighting for them." The pulse of a community His voice is a blend of pain and hope. He speaks of losses—of his father, of the land, of the river—but also of music, of living languages, and of children singing along to his songs."I am an artery of the Poqomam people," he repeats.And like any artery, he beats to keep his community alive.  

Fracking in Latin America: Impacts and actions to curb its spread

The Xingu River is being silenced, but not its people

A river is always a path, sustenance, and memory.  At the Volta Grande (or Great Bend) of the Xingu River, deep in the Brazilian Amazon, the water did more than just flow: it taught people when to plant, when to fish, and when to celebrate.  There, life moved to the rhythm of the river.  But that began to change in 2010, when plans were underway to build the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant, and a silent question began to grow: Who decides the fate of the water?  Six years later, on May 5, 2016, when the dam was inaugurated, nearly 80% of the Xingu River’s flow had been diverted.As early as 2018, organizations and communities were warning that the flow management plan imposed on the Xingu River for the operation of the hydroelectric plant foreshadowed a future of drought.That warning has come true.Today, entire stretches of the river are dry. More than 100 kilometers of the Volta Grande have lost their natural flow. The water, which once sustained biodiversity and local ways of life, no longer flows as it once did.  Without enough water, the fish have stopped reproducing. There has been no spawning for three years.  The river’s silence has turned into hunger, uncertainty, and disruption.  The death of the fish is not just an environmental impact: it is the breakdown of a way of life.  Indigenous, riverine, and fishing communities have lost not only their primary source of food but also their autonomy and their connection to the land.  Today, the legacy of Belo Monte is a growing accumulation of ecological, social, and cultural degradation.  However, this story is not yet over. Time for justice for the Xingu River and the life it sustainsTen years after the Belo Monte Dam began operations, the reported impacts have been confirmed, but something unexpected has also grown stronger: resistance.The affected communities remain organized, active, and determined. They continue to speak out, demand reparations, and defend their right to live alongside the river.That strength is evident today in the protests against new projects in the area.Because for these communities, the struggle is not just against a project; it is for the survival of their way of life.Today is a moment of justice for them.  The complaint against the Brazilian State for its international responsibility in the case has been before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights since 2011, pending a decision that could mark a turning point for the communities of the Xingu Basin.  The complaint contains the legal and evidentiary elements necessary for the Commission to admit it, determine that there were several human rights violations, and refer the case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, whose ruling could set a precedent for state regulation of megaprojects in the context of the climate crisis; public participation; and the protection of indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and key ecosystems such as the Amazon.But as the process moves forward slowly, the impacts continue to worsen every day. The urgency is not legal; it is human. Every unanswered cycle is another cycle of drought, biodiversity loss, and mounting violations.    In this case, making a decision is not just an institutional matter; it is a matter of life expectancy for those who depend on the river.What happened with Belo Monte has become a symbol.  It is a clear example of how projects marketed as “clean energy” can have profound and lasting impacts when they disregard human rights.  At a time when the world is seeking energy solutions to address the climate crisis, we cannot repeat old patterns of injustice.  Learn More 

How much water is used to produce energy?

Water and energy go hand in hand. Processes such as gas extraction, oil refining, and hydroelectric power plant operations all require water. Thus, as energy demand increases, so does the need for water to generate it.This leads to environmental and social impacts, including the depletion of water sources and the pollution of rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.Understanding the connection between water and energy production gives us a broader perspective on what our water consumption entails.Conserving water also means reducing our energy consumption, exploring more sustainable energy generation options, and demanding that energy be produced in a clean and fair manner.  The water footprint of energyWater is essential for energy production. But not all sources consume the same amount of water, so their environmental impact varies. To generate 1 megawatt—enough to power 1,000 homes for one hour—here is how many liters of water are consumed by different sources of electricity: But water use goes beyond that. In addition to electricity generation, the energy sector uses freshwater—with various socio-environmental impacts—in its various production processes:  Conventional thermoelectric power plantsIn these plants, water is heated to high temperatures—by burning coal, gas, or oil—to produce steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity.Water is also used in thermal power plants to cool the power-generating units.  Hydroelectric power plantsThey use the force of water to drive turbines that generate electricity. By damming or diverting the natural flow of rivers, streams, and lakes, they fragment habitats, leading to the displacement and decline of species. They also impact water quality.Furthermore, they cause the forced displacement of communities living near water sources and who depend on them.  Fuel extraction and productionWater is used in coal mining and in drilling wells for oil and gas. In many cases, these processes generate wastewater.Water is also needed to refine oil and gas before they can be used as fuels.  Coal miningIn addition to using water to extract the mineral, it can be used—along with chemicals—to remove sulfur and impurities before combustion. Coal mining using explosives generates debris that can contaminate local water sources and even block them. Coal can be transported to the power plant using a method that pumps the finely ground coal mixed with water through pipes.  Hydraulic fracturing (fracking)In this technique, a mixture consisting of more than 90% water, along with chemicals and sand, is injected at high pressure into underground rock formations to fracture them and access the oil or gas they contain.The wastewater from this mixture remains underground and can contaminate the groundwater that feeds nearby aquifers.  Renewable energySolar photovoltaic and wind power do not use water to operate, but they require supplies and materials whose production requires water.A notable example is lithium, which is used to manufacture the batteries that store the energy generated by these sources. Its extraction involves massive water consumption from salt flats, one of its primary sources:2,000 liters of water for every ton of lithium produced in evaporation ponds.Water is used to extract lithium carbonate and separate it from the remaining compound.Water is lost during brine pumping. Understanding how much water is needed to generate the energy we use gives us a broader perspective on the water our energy consumption entails.Reducing our energy needs and promoting sustainable and equitable energy production are also ways to conserve water. If you'd like to learn more about this topic, here is a list of the sources we consulted: - "How It Works: Water for Electricity", Union of Concerned Scientists.- "El uso del agua: una planta de energía termoeléctrica", USGS.- "¿Por qué la termoeléctrica no es energía limpia?", J. Soto, Greenpeace.- "How much water does the typical hydraulically fractured well require?", U.S. Geological Survey.- "Hydraulic Fracturing and its Impact on Water Resources", Water Footprint Calculator.- "The intensification of the water footprint of hydraulic fracturing", Science Advances.- "Efectos del represamiento de ríos en países de América Latina y el Caribe sobre la biodiversidad, el agua, la alimentación y la energía", A. Stehr, CEPAL.- "Las represas y su impacto en la naturaleza", WWF.- "¿Qué es el litio, para qué sirve y de dónde se extrae en la Argentina?", Florencia Ballarino, Chequeado.- "El impacto de la minería de litio en los Humedales Altoandinos", Wetlands International.- "'Triángulo de litio: la amenaza a los salares de Bolivia, Chile y Argentina", Rodolfo Chisleanchi, Mongabay Latam.    Data on water consumption in electricity generation obtained from: - "A simple model to help understand water use at power plants", A. Delgado y H. J. Herzog, MIT.- "How it Works: Water for Natural Gas", Union of Concerned Scientists.- "Hidropower Explained", U.S. Energy Information Administration.- "How it Works: Water for Nuclear", Union of Concerned Scientists.- "Geothermal Energu Factsheet", University of Michigan.- "Life cycle water use for electricity generation: a review and harmonization of literature estimates", J. Meldrum y otros, Environmental Research Letters.  

Neither AngloGold Ashanti nor Mineros S.A.: Cajamarca is a municipality free of large-scale mining

Even if the companies change, the decision of Cajamarca's citizens remains the same: to defend their territory against large-scale mining. Bogotá / Cajamarca. Following the announcement by Mineros S.A. that it has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of AngloGold Ashanti Colombia S.A.S. in the La Colosa mining project in Cajamarca, the Legal Coalition for the Defense of Cajamarca (1) reiterates a clear message: Cajamarca has already decided, and its territory must remain free of large-scale mining. For more than a decade, we have been engaged in mobilization, legal defense, and advocacy efforts to protect Cajamarca from the La Colosa mining project promoted by AngloGold Ashanti. Thanks to this collective defense of the territory and environmental regulations, exploration activities for this project are currently suspended. Since 2017, the citizens of Cajamarca have spoken out emphatically through a public consultation, in which 98% of voters rejected mining activities in the municipality. This result has full legal effect, as confirmed by two Colombian judges, and represented a milestone in participation and environmental democracy in Colombia, as well as a clear expression of the territory's desire to protect water, the municipality's agricultural vocation, and the region's strategic ecosystems.   In this context, the change of ownership of the project from AngloGold Ashanti to Mineros S.A. does not change the reality of the territory or the position of the communities. Although the companies may change, Cajamarca's decision remains the same: to defend its territory against large-scale mining. Furthermore, neither of these two companies has the necessary environmental permits to reactivate the La Colosa project, yet they insist on disregarding the community's autonomous and legitimate decisions.    The announcement of this transaction comes just days after the Cajamarca City Council approved a municipal agreement initiated by citizens that declared 33 properties belonging to AngloGold Ashanti as areas of public utility and social interest. This decision reaffirms the municipality's institutional commitment to protecting the territory. The organizations that have signed this statement reiterate that Cajamarca is not and will not be a mining territory. Whether it be AngloGold, Mineros S.A., or any other company, large-scale mining has no place in the municipality. We will continue to take all necessary social, legal, and political actions to defend the territory and ensure that Cajamarca's decision is respected. #LaConsultaSeRespeta (1) The Coalition is made up of the Cajamarca Youth Socio-Environmental Collective (COSAJUCA), the SIEMBRA Socio-Legal Center, the Mining Studies Research Group at the University of Antioquia, the Inter-American Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), the Public Action Group Legal Clinic (GAP) of the Faculty of Jurisprudence of the University of Rosario, the Legal Clinic on Law and Territory of the Javeriana University, the Colombian Commission of Jurists (CCJ), and Sibelys Mejía Rodríguez (independent researcher).Press contactsRobinson Mejía | COSAJUCA | [email protected] | 300 218 36 41 Sara Sofia Moreno | SIEMBRA | [email protected] | 300 568 33 33 | Lorena Zárate | AIDA | [email protected] | +52 553902 7481Laura Becerra | CCJ | [email protected] | 313 475 5815  

10 environmental news stories to end 2025 on a hopeful note

We are nearing the end of a complex year, and taking stock seems daunting. Multilateralism is faltering as environmental crises worsen and urgently demand decisive action.In such turbulent times, it is worth taking stock of what we, as humanity, have achieved in building a more just and sustainable world for all who inhabit it.2025 will be remembered as the year when an underwater expedition thrilled us in real time, when we celebrated the implementation of agreements to protect life in the ocean, and when international court rulings transformed the pursuit of justice to protect people and the environment from the climate emergency.These are some of the environmental victories that this year has left us with, and they deserve to be celebrated, just as we honor the fire that shines in the darkness. Because even with small lights, we can continue to illuminate a path of hope toward environmental and climate justice. 1. International courts issued landmark decisions for climate justiceThe Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice released their respective advisory opinions on the climate emergency. Both decisions clarified the obligations of states to protect the rights of people and nature in the face of the climate crisis.These decisions are part of an unprecedented global movement for climate justice, which also includes the advisory opinion issued in 2024 by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and similar future decisions, such as the one expected from the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights.Learn More: Dialogue Earth 2. Climate litigation exceeded 3,000 cases worldwideClimate litigation reached 3,099 cases worldwide, according to a report by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the United Nations Environment Program. Although climate litigation in countries in the global south is still in the minority (9.8% of the total documented), it has grown steadily. Brazil stands out as the third country with the most cases in the world (135), and other Latin American countries (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile) are among the top 15 with the most cases reported.This growth demonstrates the increasing use of strategic litigation to promote concrete action on the causes and consequences of the climate crisis.Learn More: Sabin Center for Climate Change Law 3. Colombia declared its part of the Amazon free from oil and large-scale mining activitiesDuring the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), Colombia declared the entire Colombian Amazon region a zone free from oil and large-scale mining activities, announcing it as a "reserve zone for renewable natural resources."The decision implies an unprecedented limitation on the expansion of mining and hydrocarbon activities in more than 48 million hectares, equivalent to 7% of the entire Amazon region. It is also a call to other Amazonian countries to follow suit.Learn More: InfoAmazonia 4. Countries create a global mechanism to promote a just energy transitionAn important step forward at COP30 was the adoption of the Belém Action Mechanism, created within the framework of the Just Transition Work Program.The mechanism will function as a coordinating space to centralize global initiatives, offer technical assistance, and strengthen international cooperation. It is an achievement driven by civil society to promote ambitious climate action and a transition that does not repeat the mistakes of the fossil fuel era.Learn More: AIDA and The Climate Reality Project América Latina 5. An underwater expedition in Argentina marked a scientific and technological milestoneThe expedition "Underwater Odel Plata Canyon: Talud Continental IV," led by scientists from Argentina's National Scientific and Technical Research Council, in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, explored the deep ocean in the Mar del Plata submarine canyon for 21 days, while broadcasting live on YouTube and Twitch.The result: 40 new marine species and an unexpected diversity of cold-water corals were discovered, findings that were seen and celebrated in real time by millions of people.Learn More: CONICET 6. The High Seas Treaty will finally enter into forceIn a process that took more than two decades, the High Seas Treaty this year reached the 60 ratifications needed to trigger its entry into force, which will occur on January 17, 2026. This binding agreement allows for the protection of the part of the ocean outside of national boundaries, almost half of the planet, through the creation of marine protected areas in international waters and the conduct of environmental impact assessments of planned human activities on the high seas.  This is a historic milestone for the protection of the ocean and the well-being of millions of people in Latin America and around the world.Learn More: AIDA 7. Implementation begins on agreement ending harmful fisheries subsidiesThe World Trade Organization's Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies came into force in September this year. It is the first multilateral trade treaty to prioritize environmental sustainability, as well as a milestone in ensuring food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities.The agreement prohibits government subsidies that promote illegal fishing and the depletion of overexploited stocks.Learn More: WTO 8. Green sea turtles are no longer considered an endangered speciesAfter decades of decline, the population of green sea turtles is recovering. The International Union for Conservation of Nature no longer considers them endangered and has reclassified them as a "species of least concern."This sea turtle population has increased thanks to decades of conservation work to protect nesting areas, reduce capture, and prevent bycatch. AIDA was part of these efforts, protecting them in the 1990s from hunting—which was legal at the time—in Costa Rica.Learn More: AIDA and IUCN Red List 9. Protection of key ecosystems around the world, including the Galapagos, is growingUNESCO added 26 new biosphere reserves in 21 countries, the highest number in 20 years, and approved the expansion of 60,000 square kilometers in the Galapagos Biosphere Reserve in Ecuador to incorporate the Hermandad Marine Reserve.  This will protect the area where dozens of marine species, many of them protected, transit, and which is considered one of the most diverse ocean corridors in the world.Learn More: LaderaSur and Government of Ecuador 10. Deforestation decreased in Afro-descendant territories in Latin AmericaAfro-descendant communities in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Suriname have significantly reduced their deforestation rates, according to new research from Conservation International.The study showed that Afro-descendant communities are critical to environmental conservation, as 56% of their lands are located in the 5% of the world with the highest biodiversity.Learn More: Conservation International 

Our Contribution to Environmental Justice in 2025

At AIDA, one of our core pillars is using the law strategically — backed by science and international advocacy — to set important precedents that protect the environment and human rights across Latin America.This year, our work helped strengthen both regional and global legal frameworks so they can better respond to the social and environmental challenges we face today.These advances led to the creation of key legal tools that open new opportunities to defend communities and their territories, protect the region’s biodiversity, and hold governments and companies accountable.The progress we saw in 2025 highlights the transformative power of law, science, and the collective strength of communities when they work together. 1. Two new global treaties restore hope for the ocean — and for all of usThis year brought two historic achievements that could change the future of the ocean, and our own.The first is the ratification of the High Seas Treaty, which will take effect in January 2026. This legally binding agreement creates shared rules and a system of multilateral governance for the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction — nearly half the planet.The second milestone is the entry into force of the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. For the first time, a multilateral trade treaty puts environmental sustainability front and center by banning government subsidies that fuel illegal fishing and the depletion of overfished stocks.AIDA played an important role in ensuring Latin America’s perspectives were reflected in both agreements. We provided technical support to government representatives throughout the process, and we continue working to make sure these treaties lead to real, effective action across the region.Learn More 2. Maya community in Guatemala achieves a landmark environmental victoryIn Chinautla, Guatemala, the Poqomam Maya community won an unprecedented court ruling over decades of river pollution that violated their rights. The court ordered the municipality to carry out studies, programs, and plans to reduce pollution — and to ensure the community is involved every step of the way.This is the first time a court in Guatemala has recognized both a people’s right to a healthy environment and their central role in finding solutions. The ruling could inspire other municipalities along the Motagua River, the country’s longest river, where pollution also threatens the Mesoamerican Reef.Beyond providing legal support, AIDA helped the community document illegal dumping that harmed their water sources. This hands-on “community science” effort played a crucial role in both the lawsuit and the historic ruling.Learn More 3. Corte Interamericana marca un antes y después para la justicia climáticaOn July 3, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued its long-awaited Advisory Opinion 32 on human rights and the climate emergency — a landmark moment for climate justice both regionally and globally. The Court clarifies the legal obligations of states to protect people and communities affected by the climate crisis, opening new pathways for justice in national and international courts, climate negotiations, and public policy advocacy.For the first time, the Court recognized the right to a healthy climate and affirmed that states have a duty to prevent companies from violating human rights in the context of climate change.Ahead of this decision, AIDA helped amplify the voices of communities across the region, facilitating their testimony before the Court and presenting our own arguments for recognizing the right to a stable and safe climate.Learn More Discover the stories behind these victories and our full review of the year in our 2025 Annual Report. 

StoryMap: Environmental Impacts of Lithium Extraction in an Argentine Wetland

Protecting the Environment Through Collaboration: A Community Science Experience

When environmental damage occurs, the first warning often comes from the people or communities directly affected. Residents living near a river are usually the first to notice waste being dumped or fish dying when the water is polluted. Similarly, who live near an open pit mine are the who see when illness becomes more common or when water begins to run scarce.One powerful way to turn lived experience into scientific evidence is through community science. This approach allows people to share, validate, and integrate local knowledge into scientific research and efforts to defend their territories.At AIDA, we believe in the power of science to advance environmental justice. That’s why we generate and apply scientific knowledge in the legal cases we support. Recently, we had the opportunity to take part in a community science initiative that helped us reflect on—and learn from—the value of this collaborative methodology and the shared knowledge it produces.  Local Knowledge: A Powerful Response to Environmental Degradation In April 2024, at the request of the Poqomam Maya community of Santa Cruz Chinautla—a village near Guatemala’s capital—AIDA senior scientist Javier Oviedo and attorney Bryslie Cifuentes carried out a field visit to gather information and assess the solid waste pollution that has affected the community for years.One of their main objectives was to identify illegal dump sites on the banks of the Chinautla River. The disposal of waste and debris in this area has contaminated both the soil and waters of this tributary of the Motagua River, the longest river in Guatemala.While preparing for the trip, Javier realized the team would face several challenges. The time available would not be enough to collect all the necessary data, and the team’s limited familiarity with the area could make locating the dumpsites difficult and potentially unsafe.Then Javier had an idea: to involve members of the community in supporting the team with this task.His plan made perfect sense—after all, who better to locate the illegal dumpsites than the people who know the territory best? Beyond that, by witnessing the impacts of pollution firsthand, community members could also appreciate the importance of documenting these issues.I spoke with Javier about how this idea came about, and he shared the following:  Beyond seeking support from community members, this approach was rooted in a recognition of the irreplaceable value of their knowledge as residents of their territory.  How the Work Was Carried Out Javier’s idea was that, with the help of an accessible and easy-to-use mobile app, community members could send information about illegal landfills directly to the AIDA Science team, who would then validate and analyze the data.To make this possible, the team designed a form specifying the data they needed to collect: the location of the landfill, its dimensions, the type of waste identified, associated social issues, and other relevant details.In Chinautla, two community residents, along with authorities from the Poqomam Maya village, visited several landfills they had previously identified with Javier and Bryslie. During these visits, Javier showed them how to use the app and fill out the form. Later, one of the residents continued the process independently.Thanks to this collaborative effort, data was collected on 10 of the most critical illegal dumpsites. While this does not capture all of them—unfortunately, many more exist—this sample allowed the team to estimate the extent of waste and debris pollution in the community and to illustrate how poor management has exacerbated the problem.The information gathered was crucial in highlighting the severity of the pollution, demonstrating the continued use of illegal dumping, and exposing the municipal authorities’ failure to meet their legal obligations regarding waste management.This evidence formed the basis for the lawsuit the community filed against the municipality of Chinautla in October 2024, citing the lack of measures to address river and soil contamination caused by inadequate waste management and illegal landfills. In June 2025, an appeals court ordered the municipality to take action to address the serious environmental crisis affecting the community.  Lessons Learned from the Experience According to Javier, involving the people of Chinautla in a knowledge-building process led to mutual learning.For community members, it meant acquiring new technological skills. For the AIDA team, it prompted new questions about how to move knowledge-sharing with a community beyond simple collaboration.Javier summarized his learnings in three points:   At AIDA, science is a core part of our work and a key element of the strategic litigation we pursue to protect and defend a healthy environment across Latin America. Involving the communities we support in this process broadens our perspective, allowing us to integrate their knowledge and experiences into the science we seek to build.