Colombia appoints Fabio Arjona as environment minister

President‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced that marine biologist Fabio Arjona, former vice‑president of Conservation International, will serve as Colombia's new minister of Environment. In early interviews Arjona said "Declarar la Amazonía libre de explotación minera es populista. ¡Paja!" and argued that any mining decisions must respect existing legal titles and be based on scientific, technical and social criteria.

He indicated that water protection in the Santurbán paramo will be a priority, while leaving open the possibility of reviewing the area's mining delimitations and citing Canadian firm Aris Mining as a reference. President Gustavo Petro responded on social media, stating “Estaremos al frente para defender la vida” and warning that mining could threaten the region’s water supply.

Arjona also confirmed that the National Authority for Environmental Licenses (ANLA) will remain operational, but will undergo reforms to speed licensing using artificial intelligence, clearer timelines and differentiated requirements for projects. He emphasized the need to avoid discretionary blocking of projects.

On wildlife management, the minister dismissed lethal control of invasive hippos in the Magdalena River basin, preferring sterilisation, relocation and other non‑lethal measures. He reiterated reservations about fracking and pledged to advance a renewable‑energy transition.

Other proposed changes include reducing bureaucratic contracts within the ministry, improving consultation processes with indigenous communities, and strengthening technical capacity while maintaining rigorous environmental standards.