ID: 1902
Presenting Author: Mariana Villas
Session: 652 - EA in Latin America: Bridging Infrastructure and Communities for Sustainable Development
Status: pending
Anticipatory stakeholder engagement in Latin America’s offshore wind expansion can strengthen legitimacy, inclusion, and social trust, aligning the energy transition with equitable and sustainable mar
The global energy transition is reshaping coastal and marine governance as countries diversify their energy matrices and expand renewable infrastructure. Offshore wind, once concentrated in Europe and East Asia, is rapidly emerging in Latin America, where favorable wind regimes, vast coastlines, and growing policy interest align with climate ambitions. Yet this expansion introduces complex social dynamics, as economic, cultural, and ecological uses converge in shared marine spaces. Early and inclusive stakeholder engagement is therefore essential to ensure transparent, equitable, and legitimate energy transition processes. Experiences from countries with established offshore wind sectors show that projects grounded in early dialogue and long-term trust-building with coastal users, such as artisanal fishers, Indigenous Peoples, and traditional communities, achieve stronger social acceptance and fewer conflicts. In Latin America, where cultural diversity is high and Indigenous and traditional populations have a strong presence, especially in nations with long coastlines such as Brazil, anticipatory approaches can be transformative. Many countries in the region are signatories to the ILO Convention No. 169, reinforcing commitment to Free, Prior and Informed Consultation (FPIC) as a basis for inclusive energy governance. Embedding FPIC principles, participatory mapping, and social cartography into early offshore wind planning can enhance representation, transparency, and trust, aligning the region’s energy transition with social justice and sustainable ocean management.
Mariana Martins Villas is an ecologist and Senior Social Consultant at RINA Consulting, specializing in stakeholder engagement, social performance, and communication strategies for renewable energy an
Coauthor 1: Alessandro Oliveira