The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) provides its 38 member countries with a forum to work together to build better policies for better lives. We draw on more than 60 years of experience to shape policies that foster prosperity and opportunity, underpinned by equality and well-being. We work closely with policy makers, stakeholders and citizens to establish evidence-based international standards and to find solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges. The Organisation provides a setting where governments can compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice and work to co-ordinate domestic and international policies.
WHAT ARE EPRs?
OECD Environmental Performance Reviews (EPRs) provide evidence-based analysis and assessment of countries’ progress towards their environmental policy objectives. They promote peer learning, enhance government accountability and provide targeted recommendations to help countries improve their environmental performance. They are supported by a broad range of economic and environmental data. Over the last 30 years, the OECD has conducted more than 100 EPRs of OECD Members and selected partner countries.
All reports, and more information, are available on the EPR website: http://oe.cd/epr
THE SECOND EPR OF COLOMBIA
This is the second EPR of Colombia. It examines the country’s environmental performance since the previous review in 2014. This includes actions of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and central government, as well as those of other relevant government authorities, civil society and businesses. The process involved a constructive and mutually beneficial policy dialogue between Colombia and the countries participating in the OECD Working Party on Environmental Performance (WPEP). The OECD is grateful to the peer reviewers from Costa Rica and Norway.
The EPR provides 46 recommendations. The WPEP discussed and expressed support for the review’s Assessment and Recommendations on 7 October 2025.
The review is based on information and data available up to September 2025.
KEY ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS 2024 (or latest available year)
GHG intensity – GHG emissions per capita 3.6 tCO2 eq. per capita (OECD average is 10.4)
Energy intensity – Total energy supply per capita 0.9 toe per capita (OECD average is 3.7)
Renewables (% of total energy supply) 24% (OECD average is 13)
Mean population exposure to PM2.5 14 μg/m3 (OECD average is 12)
Municipal waste per capita 469 kg per capita (OECD average is 552)
Material productivity (USD, 2020 PPPs/Domestic material consumption, kg) 2.3 USD/kg (OECD average is 2.9)
Wastewater treatment (% of population connected to at least secondary treatment) 7.5% (OECD average is n.a.)
Forest area (% land area) 53% (OECD average is 33)
Share of CO2 emissions priced above EUR 60/tCO2 1% (OECD weighted average 23)
Environmental taxes (% of total tax revenue) 2.8% (OECD average is 4.3)
Passenger cars stock 12 cars/100 inhabitants (OECD average 51)
*Note rounded figures.
Overview
Colombia is a diverse, resource-rich economy that aspires to be a “powerhouse of life”, anchoring its development model in sustainability, social inclusion, and the conservation of its exceptional biodiversity. As one of Latin America’s largest economies, Colombia has sustained robust growth over the past decade, broadly in line with regional and global trends, except for the temporary disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its upper middle-income status, GDP per capita remains among the lowest in the OECD, and poverty, inequality, and informality persist above regional averages. The country faces a large fiscal deficit. Since the 2016 Peace Agreement, efforts to promote rural development, social equity, and environmentally-sustainable growth have helped to translate peace commitments into tangible gains, positioning the country to achieve more inclusive and resilient long-term growth.
Over 2010-21, many environmental pressures continued to rise, although at a slower rate than economic growth. The relative decoupling of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), total energy supply, domestic material consumption and most air pollutant emissions from GDP growth is a promising signal. Nonetheless, further efforts are needed to improve air quality, strengthen waste management and expand access to drinking water and sanitation. The country has set ambitious climate goals, including a 51% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 compared to business-as-usual and net-zero emissions by 2050. Achieving them requires steep emissions reductions by swiftly implementing additional mitigation measures.
Despite progress towards cleaner energy, the economy remains highly dependent on fossil fuels, which continue to underpin fiscal revenues. The country has strengthened its climate adaptation capacity and broadened civil society participation in biodiversity conservation. Progress has been made in slowing deforestation and curbing illegal activities driving biodiversity loss. Sustained efforts are needed to mainstream biodiversity across sectors and align socio-economic, climate and biodiversity goals for inclusive, resilient growth.
COLOMBIA 2024
(or latest available year)
Population: 52.9 million
GDP per capita: USD 16 700 (current purchasing power parities) (OECD average is 61 300)
Total land area: 1 141 000 km2
Population density: 47 inhabitants/km2 (OECD average is 39)
Currency: Colombian Peso (COP), USD 1 = COP 4 074
* Note: rounded figures.
Key recommendations
Addressing key environmental challenges
CLIMATE CHANGE
• Swiftly develop, adopt, and regularly update Sectoral Climate Change Management Plans (PIGCCS), with measures sufficient to meet NDC targets.
• Strengthen implementation of the legal requirement to integrate climate-related risks into territorial and development plans.
• Advance the Just Energy Transition Roadmap by setting sectoral targets to cut emissions and fossil fuel dependence, committing to a clear date to exit coal, setting mid-term goals for non-conventional renewables, accelerating energy efficiency and electrification, and enhancing community engagement and benefit-sharing.
• Accelerate efforts to transition to sustainable urban mobility by improving transport connectivity as well as advancing and expanding transport electrification, promoting active mobility.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
• Strengthen waste management systems by expanding coverage to rural and underserved areas and updating tariff structures. Reinforce enforcement to curb illegal disposal and ensure adequate treatment options. Scale up extended producer responsibility schemes and economic instruments to support circular economy objectives.
WATER
• Strengthen enforcement of water quality standards; establish minimum requirements for wastewater reuse and enforceable regulations for sustainable urban drainage systems.
• Mobilise investment in climate-resilient water supply, sanitation and wastewater treatment infrastructure. Reform subsidies based on socio-economic strata to better target support.
IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
• Swiftly conclude reforms to expand the environmental licensing regime to cover activities with potentially high environmental risk and address gaps in large-scale legacy projects. Establish a clear legal requirement for strategic environmental assessments.
• Adopt BAT-based permits with emission limits, technical requirements, and monitoring obligations, updating standards regularly.
GREENING FISCAL SYSTEMS AND ALIGNING FINANCE WITH CLIMATE GOALS
• Strengthen environment-related taxation, streamline green tax incentives and phase out environmentally harmful subsidies as part of a comprehensive fiscal reform.
• Follow through with the gradual phase-out of diesel subsidies; replace energy price discounts with means-tested cash transfers and improve identification of vulnerable beneficiaries.
• Raise the carbon tax rate and tighten offsetting options under the non-causation mechanism; ensure transparent emission monitoring and reporting, and co-ordinate the carbon tax, future emission trading system and offsets.
• Link vehicle taxes to fuel efficiency and emissions. Remove tax breaks for older vehicles and, as the electric vehicles (EV) market matures, shift subsidies from private cars to charging infrastructure, public transport electrification, and freight renewal.
• Improve the quality, coverage and accessibility of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) data on investments supporting or undermining climate goals.
• Develop methodologies to collect and publish statistics on green financial instruments, including debt, loans, equity and investment funds. Expand mandatory disclosure of quantitative climate-related metrics.
• Review the impact of financial sector policies on climate and financial objectives, beginning with an evaluation of Colombia’s Green Taxonomy.
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE
• Enhance sustainable management of fisheries, forests and land use through stronger enforcement, control of overexploitation and pollution and ecosystem-based adaptation.
• Reinforce action against illegal activities driving deforestation and biodiversity loss.
• Promote greater integration between climate, desertification and biodiversity policies, aligning targets and indicators and integrating climate and biodiversity into land-use plans and sectoral policies.
• Scale up ecological restoration and conservation, prioritising underrepresented and highly threatened ecosystems, enhance landscape connectivity, and integrate biodiversity into peace processes.
• Develop robust reporting, monitoring, and assessment systems for payments for ecosystem services programmes to improve targeting, align funding with local opportunity costs, ensure environmental integrity, and enhance co-ordination with REDD+. Strengthen REDD+ regulations to ensure accountability, social and environmental safeguards, and free, prior, informed consent.
• Strengthen oversight of biodiversity offsets to ensure ecological equivalence and permanence.
• Accelerate implementation of the Catastro Multipropósito to improve land tenure data, advance agricultural frontier delimitation, and strengthen integration of land-use planning across all levels.
• Develop a comprehensive financial strategy to implement the Biodiversity Action Plan 2030, further developing innovative financial instruments.
Towards green growth
ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE: KEY TRENDS
Colombia is building a stronger foundation for climate adaptation, but uneven implementation weakens resilience. A comprehensive set of quantitative and qualitative indicators to monitor progress on adaptation has been developed. Sectoral adaptation plans have been developed for several key sectors but others still lack them. Despite requirements to integrate climate risks into territorial and development plans, implementation by local authorities remains uneven, weakening resilience to climate change. Scaling up and better targeting adaptation finance is critical: current investment covers only about one-third of estimated needs, and funding is not well aligned with the vulnerability of departments.
Ambitious mitigation targets contrast with rising emissions; stronger action is urgently needed. The country has set ambitious targets to cut GHG emissions by 51% from business-as-usual levels by 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2050. The policy and institutional framework to address climate change has been progressively strengthened. Nevertheless,
emissions continue to rise (Figure 1), driven mainly by deforestation, agriculture and transport. Achieving climate targets will require sharper annual reductions and additional measures. Sectoral and territorial climate plans are in place for most sectors and almost all regions, but updates and broader coverage are needed to accelerate progress.
Meeting climate targets requires reversing deforestation, cutting agricultural emissions and accelerating the clean energy transition. Deforestation has been declining since 2017 and hit a record low in 2023; however the recent increase calls for reinforced measures. Emissions from agriculture continue to rise, with livestock accounting for the largest share. Progress implementing climate-smart agriculture has proceeded slowly. Colombia has made bold commitments to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and foster a just energy transition. While the country has a relatively high share of renewables (twice the OECD average) thanks to hydropower, its high potential for non-conventional renewables remains largely untapped.
Figure 1. Colombia has increased climate mitigation ambition, but emissions continue to rise Historical GHG emissions, target, projections, and indicative pathways to targets, 1990-2050
GHG, without LULUCF
GHG, with LULUCF Land-use change* GHG with LULUCF path to targets Mitigation scenario Reference scenario Net zero 2050
NDC 3.0 2035 target 155-161 Mt CO2e
Note: GHG = greenhouse gas; LULUCF = land use, land-use change and forestry. (*) Land-use change emissions include all conversions except those to forest. The reference scenario is based on 2010-2014 estimates from the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (INGEI) of the BUR2. Emission reduction efforts that began before 1 January 2015 are considered part of the reference scenario. The mitigation scenario covers 44 measures.
Sources: Gobierno de Colombia (2020), Update of Colombia's Nationally Determined Contribution; Correa-Laguna et al. (2021), Colombia's GHG Emissions Reduction Scenario: Complete Representation of the Energy and Non-Energy Sectors in LEAP; IDEAM (2024), Inventario Nacional de Emisiones y Remociones de GEI (1990-2021), Primer Informe Bienal de Transparencia; Gobierno de Colombia (2025), Contribución Determinada a Nivel Nacional NDC 3.0 : Transformaciones para la vida.
Air pollution remains a major public health and economic burden. Progress has been made in reducing the number of municipalities exceeding national PM2.5 standards, implementing the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Policy, and lowering indoor pollution from rural wood burning. However, overall air pollutant emissions rose between 2015 and 2021, notably for CO and non-methane volatile organic compounds, with fuel combustion, particularly transport, remaining the main source. Implementation of air quality policies remains uneven, limited by institutional, financial and capacity constraints. Expanding monitoring systems and updating standards to converge towards international benchmarks and best available techniques are essential to meet the 2040 target of halving pollution-related health impacts.
Despite abundant freshwater resources, water scarcity and poor water quality continue to affect some regions. Water quality faces pressures from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, domestic wastewater and mercury from mining. Weak institutional capacity, overlapping responsibilities and limited enforcement hinder implementation of a comprehensive regulatory framework. Abstraction and pollution charges could promote more efficient water use, but low levels and collection rates reduce their effectiveness. Access to safely managed drinking
water and sanitation has stalled over the past decade, reaching only 74% and 18% of the population in 2022, well below regional peers (Figure 2). Rural areas are particularly underserved. Investment in water supply and sanitation has declined since 2012 and remains insufficient to meet Sustainable Development Goals.
Rising waste generation is increasing pressure on disposal capacity. About 48% of solid waste is landfilled. Waste collection and separation remain major challenges, particularly in rural areas. About 53% of households report sorting waste under mandatory rules, but limited infrastructure and weak co-ordination often result in mixed disposal. With organic waste accounting for nearly 61% of urban solid waste, further efforts are needed for its sustainable management. Colombia has strengthened waste information systems, advanced extended producer responsibility programmes and adopted taxes on single-use plastic. Still, sanitation fee systems remain insufficient for financial sustainability. Scaling up economic instruments could improve cost recovery. Informal waste pickers have gained recognition, but their livelihoods and sector support need further strengthening.
systems remain insufficient for financial
At 16% in 2022, Colombia is already close to reaching its 2030 recycling goal.
Source: WHO/UNICEF (2023), Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Figure 2. Access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services in Colombia is below regional peers
Note: Surface water refers to water sourced from rivers, streams, and springs. Wastewater treatment data refers only to urban centres and is estimated using total treated flows and total discharges.
Towards green growth cont'd
IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Stronger laws, court rulings, and new international commitments are reshaping environmental governance. Landmark court decisions have recognised rivers as subjects of rights, and penalties for environmental crimes have been strengthened. Colombia has increased the effective participation of Indigenous and Traditional Territories (ITTs), peasant, and local communities in consultation processes. Sustaining this is key to ensure inclusive governance. The 2024 ratification of the Escazú Agreement reinforces commitments to transparency, participation, and justice, yet persistent violence against environmental defenders remains a serious concern.
Despite stronger enforcement against illegal activities, several regions face structural challenges. Technical capacities of the Corporations for Sustainable Development and Autonomous Regional Corporations vary widely, particularly in remote areas. Overlapping land-use plans create inconsistencies, while operational weaknesses and limited state presence in some areas hinder enforcement and have enabled illegal groups to establish de facto environmental regimes.
many legacy projects still operate under outdated requirements. Periodic evaluations using pollution and risk-reduction indicators would improve oversight and help assess effectiveness. Making strategic environmental assessments (SEA) mandatory and introducing BAT based permit conditions would further improve environmental outcomes and regulatory effectiveness.
ENHANCING POLICY COHERENCE FOR GREEN GROWTH
In 2023, only 13% of GHG emissions were e ectively subject to a carbon price.
Colombia has made progress in greening its tax system and reducing longstanding fossil fuel subsidies, but further reforms are needed. Environment-related taxes remain low, at 0.6% of GDP in 2023, the lowest among OECD countries. Green tax incentives are abundant, but often inefficient, inequitable and fiscally costly. The removal of petrol subsidies is welcome, but remaining large diesel subsidies still strain public finances, favour the better off and weaken incentives for energy efficiency and fuel switching. A comprehensive fiscal reform, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, is needed to enhance the coherence and design of the tax system.
Environmental licensing has been strengthened. However, key sectors and activities with significant environmental impacts remain outside the licensing system, and
Vehicle standards and EV uptake advance, but incentives and sustainable transport infrastructure lag.
Strengthening carbon pricing is key. Colombia's carbon tax gradually increased to about USD 7/tCO2 in 2025, and much of its revenue is channeled towards environmental projects. However, low rates, exemptions and fossil fuel subsidies lead to negative effective carbon rates – meaning CO2 emissions are subsidised rather than priced (Figure 3). The carbon tax allows domestic offsets under the non-causation mechanism, to encourage mitigtion in the land-use sector and support a domestic voluntary carbon market. However, this further reduces the price signal and revenue and risks over-subsidising low-impact projects. Raising the tax rate would encourage mitigation in fossil-fuel sectors and boost demand for offsets. Implementing a national emissions trading system (ETS), as foreseen in the 2021 Climate Action Law, would further strengthen carbon pricing. Transparent emissions reporting and close co-ordination between the ETS, the voluntary carbon market, and the carbon tax are essential to ensure effectiveness and avoid double regulation or loopholes.
Figure 3. Carbon pricing in Colombia is limited and turns negative when accounting for fossil fuel subsidies Effective carbon rates, selected countries and OECD average, 2023, EUR per tCO₂e
Note: ETS = emissions trading system. ECR = Effective carbon rates. ECR where expressed in real EUR for a given unit of CO2-equivalent. Due to data limitations, 2023 fossil fuel subsidy estimates are based on data for 2022.
Source: OECD (2024), "Net Effective Carbon Rates" and "Shares of Emissions Priced", Tax and Environment (database); OECD (2024), Pricing Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2024.
ALIGNING FINANCE WITH CLIMATE GOALS
Colombia has taken steps to align finance with climate and biodiversity goals, including the 2022 Green Taxonomy, issuance of green bonds, and sustainability-linked credit lines for agriculture and reforestation. The country is a regional frontrunner in integrating climate considerations into financial sector policies. However, fossil fuel investments continue to exceed clean energy investment (Figure 4), running counter to global trends. Strengthening
mandatory disclosure and improving monitoring, reporting, and verification systems would enhance transparency and better guide investments. Scaling up climate-aligned investments and mobilising private and international capital are also critical. Closing data and implementation gaps while integrating biodiversity considerations support further aligning finance with Colombia’s sustainability objectives.
Figure 4. Fossil fuels still dominate investments in Colombia’s real and financial sectors
Note: Clean energy relates to investments in power generation from renewables, energy efficiency and other end uses, electricity networks, storage, nuclear power generation and clean fuels. Unabated FF or fossil fuel investments relate to investments in fossil fuel supply and power generation from unabated coal, oil and natural gas.
Source: Authors, based on IEA, LSEG, WFE, SFC, OECD, World Bank
Biodiversity conservation and sustainble use
COLOMBIA IS ADVANCING BIODIVERSITY
CONSERVATION AMID GROWING PRESSURES
Colombia’s exceptional natural capital is facing mounting pressures. Structural drivers, including land-use conflicts, agricultural and urban expansion, extractive industries, and infrastructure development, continue to degrade ecosystems. Nearly half of Colombia’s territory faces high climate risks, as changing water regimes, glacier retreat and extreme events increasingly threaten biodiversity, water security and food systems. Species diversity is under stain, with invasive species expanding rapidly. Armed conflict and illicit economies further exacerbate deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water degradation.
Colombia hosts 10% of global biodiversity and ranks among the world’s most forested countries.
Significant progress has been made in expanding protected areas, but challenges persist. Colombia exceeded its 30x30 marine conservation target ahead of schedule, protecting 47% of its exclusive economic zone (Figure 5). The updated Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) raises terrestrial protection ambition to 34% by 2030, emphasising the role of ITTs, peasant and local communities. Nearly two-thirds of the National Natural Parks System (SPNN) protected areas and almost half of Colombia’s natural forests are located within these territories, playing a central role for biodiversity conservation.
However, monitoring and management effectiveness remains uneven. Biodiversity monitoring is fragmented and lacks longitudinal data. SPNN-managed areas remain underfunded, and management effectiveness is uneven. This underscores the need for a long-term financing strategy, strengthened partnerships with relevant stakeholders, as well as targeted improvements in governance, planning, and capacity-building. Expanding Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), addressing underrepresented ecosystems, and prioritising ecological representativity across terrestrial and marine units are critical. Ensuring benefit sharing and technical support protects communities’ contributions to conservation and enhance equity.
Note: CBD = Convention on Biological Diversity; EEZ: exclusive economic zone; IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature. Some protected areas have not been designated under a specific international category. This includes areas with international or regional labels (like Natura 2000) that might fit an IUCN standard category. Because they have not been officially classified yet, they are listed as “No IUCN Category”. Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) also contribute to achieving conservation targets but may not be reported or indicated for all countries due to data limitations. Only Colombia’s totals include OECMs, classified as “No IUCN Category”. RUNAP data as of March 2025.
Sources: OECD (2025), OECD Environment Statistics; RUNAP (2025), Clasificación Áreas Protegidas; UNEP-WCMC (2025), Protected Area Profile for Colombia.
Significant progress has been made in curbing deforestation but vigilance is still needed. Forest loss has steadily declined since 2017, reaching a historic low in 2023 (Figure 6), thanks to stronger enforcement against illegal activities, greater inter-ministerial co-ordination, and engagement with civil society. Colombia has prioritised 28 of its 44 active deforestation hotspots, including 22 in the Amazon, under the Integral Strategy for Deforestation Control, aiming to transform them into Forestry Development and Biodiversity Hotspots. However, preliminary 2024 data indicate a rebound in deforestation, underscoring the need for sustained efforts. Marine and coastal ecosystems also continue to face stress from pollution, overfishing, and coastal erosion. Expanding community-based restoration, nature-based solutions, and inter-institutional co-ordinationdination will be essential to halt ecosystem loss and safeguard Colombia’s rich natural capital.
Figure 5. Colombia has exceeded its 30x30 target for marine areas
STRENGTHENING BIODIVERSITY THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE AND MULTI-SECTORAL POLICY MIX
Colombia has established a solid policy framework that positions biodiversity as a national priority for sustainable development. Successive National Development Plans have incorporated green growth and natural capital objectives, helping mainstream biodiversity into territorial planning. These efforts also support implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and broader objectives for climate resilience, food and water security, and poverty reduction. Nevertheless, fragmented planning, weak co-ordination, and dispersed financing limit biodiversity mainstreaming. Aligning biodiversity, climate, and land-use policies with harmonised targets and reporting would improve coherence and effectiveness.
Colombia has developed a diverse and increasingly sophisticated policy mix to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable land use. Area-based measures, such as the expansion of protected areas and ecological zoning, remain central to its approach, complemented by a growing use of economic instruments. Payments for ecosystem services have expanded significantly over the past decade. These programmes mobilise substantial resources and help align local livelihoods with conservation goals. However, their effectiveness, monitoring and long-term stability could be improved. Applying consistent methodologies for valuing projects and determining payment levels, as well as strengthening integration with REDD+ strategies, would enhance their impact. Biodiversity offsets and voluntary biodiversity credits have also emerged as key instruments, but weak oversight and a backlog of unexecuted offsets limit their effectiveness. Strengthening enforcement, improving transparency and evaluating environmental integrity would help ensure these mechanisms deliver durable outcomes.
Mainstreaming biodiversity requires stronger integration across sectors. Agriculture drives roughly 75% of deforestation and, with some of the highest fertiliser and pesticide use in the OECD, puts high pressures ecosystems. To reduce these pressures, Colombia is working to address land-tenure insecurity and delimiting the agricultural frontier. The multi-purpose cadastre (Catastro Multipropósito) now covers 27% of the national territory, short of the 70% target for 2026. Colombia has identified harmful incentives and created a roadmap for “green” agricultural finance, redirecting credit subsidies toward conservation, aligning local livelihoods with biodiversity and offering a replicable good practice. Despite progress,
the rural reform faces persistent challenges, including limited resources, institutional fragmentation, armed conflict and weak state presence in some regions. Mainstreaming biodiversity into mining activities has been supported by environmental management plans, biodiversity offsets, and strict protection of páramo ecosystems, with improved enforcement against illegal mining and gold-traceability efforts. However, criminal networks, weak oversight, and administrative barriers persist. Biodiversity integration into urban and rural planning remains limited. Making Regional Biodiversity Action Plans mandatory and linking them with land-use plans, alongside the 2025 Green Cities Law, would strengthen efforts.
To achieve its ambitious BAP 2030 goals, Colombia requires a robust financing strategy. The BAP’s estimated budget is over four times higher than 2014–23 average biodiversity spending. The BAP aims to further mobilise public and private resources through subsidy reform, sustainability bonds, positive incentives, international co-operation and blended finance. Fragmented data systems limit transparency and oversight of public expenditure on biodiversity, calling for more integrated and detailed data to better track and assess the efficiency and impact of spending. Promoting the bioeconomy is a national priority, expected to contribute 3% of GDP and create more than half a million jobs, but low investment in science and technology continues to constrain progress.
Figure 6. Deforestation has reached a historic low in 2023, but risks of rebound remain Deforested area 2013-2023, projections and NDC targets, Thousand hectares
Note: NDC 2.0: Nationally Determined Contribution submitted in December 2020; NDC 3.0: Nationally Determined Contribution submitted in September 2025 NDP: National Development Plan. 2024 data are provisional, while 2025-2029 data correspond to projections. The annual deforestation refers to the loss of natural forest during the year (e.g . 2019/20).
Sources: MinAmbiente (2023), Plan Integral de Contención a la Deforestación 2023-26; IDEAM (2024), Environmental Indicators; Gobierno de Colombia (2025), Contribución Determinada a Nivel Nacional NDC 3.0: Transformaciones para la vida; WWF (2025), Deforestación en Colombia registró leve aumento en el 2024.
OECD Environmental Performance Review of Colombia 2026
Find internationally comparable indicators and country profiles on OECD Environment at a Glance: http://oe.cd/env-glance
CONTACTS
Head of Division
Nathalie Girouard
Nathalie.Girouard@oecd.org
Report Co-ordinator
Kathleen Dominique
Kathleen.Dominique@oecd.org
Research and Data Officer
Adelaida Rojas Lleras
Adelaida.RojasLleras@oecd.org
Communications
Natasha Cline-Thomas
Natasha.Cline-Thomas@oecd.org
IMAGE CREDITS
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