The Climate Question
The Climate Question
Why did Ecuador vote to stop drilling for oil?
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October 29, 2023
27 minutes
Available for over a year
The Yasuni National Park in Ecuador forms part of the Amazon rainforest and is one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet.
It also produces 60,000 barrels of oil per day.
In a recent referendum, held as part of Ecuador’s Presidential elections, people voted to stop drilling for oil – including the newly elected President Daniel Noboa.
We visit the town of El Coca – the gateway to the park - where the result thrilled people who are concerned about the climate. But many, especially those whose livelihoods depend on the oil industry, feel the opposite.
Presenter Sophie Eastaugh speaks to:
Lisette Arevalo, reporter in Ecuador
Alejandra Santillana, activist with Yasunidos group in Ecuador who campaigned for the vote
Fernando Santos, Ecuador’s Energy & Mining Minister
Tessa Khan, climate lawyer and cofounder of the Climate Litigation Network, UK
Navraj Singh Ghaleigh, Senior Lecturer in climate law at Edinburgh University, UK
Email us: [email protected]
Presenter: Sophie Eastaugh
Producer: Greg Brosnan
Production co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Jacqui Johnson
Series Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor: China Collins
Sound mix: Tom Brignell