Geopolitics and Climate Change: The Significance of South America

Abstract The Amazon region is home to nearly half of the world’s tropical forests, which are key to carbon absorption, and the continent has abundant reserves of minerals critical for the energy transition and the development of low-carbon technologies, notably lithium. If skilfully deployed, South America’s rising importance for global climate mitigation and energy transition could engender more sustainable economic models at home, as well as reinforce its clout in global decision-making. Social tensions around mining and rising environmental crime could, however, diminish focus from global-projection efforts and impede building geopolitical influence through the control of resources. South America’s success in this endeavour will depend on whether regional governments can adopt policies on critical minerals, energy transition and sustainable mining that furnish predictable guidance for investors as regional partners.