7. Wind Power and Environmental Justice: The Case of Istmo de Tehuantepec

Renewable energies replace or reduce the use of fossil fuels and thus reduce greenhouse gases. In Mexico, the three levels of government (federal, state, and local) have promoted the use of wind energy in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. However, although the Isthmus is home to 27 of the country’s 38 wind farms, it is also a major corridor for migratory and endemic species. Yet, the impact of these projects on the ecosystem has not been fully evaluated. And even though Mexican legislation establishes that projects must be agreed upon and discussed by all members of affected communities and peoples, the information that nearby villagers have received about the characteristics of these projects and their impacts has been missing or incomplete. Damage to the ecosystem should be assessed with a systemic approach, and mitigation measures should be tailored to those outcomes. Likewise, local communities must be integrated into decision-making processes so that they receive equitable benefits and their rights and autonomy are respected.