Gas flares in the Ecuadorian Amazon threaten human rights

The negative impacts of greenhouse gas flaring on human rights and the environment, as well as its contribution to global warming, are widely recognized by the international community and by scientists.

For this reason, there are global initiatives to phase out flaring, and some countries have banned and regulated the practice. In the Americas, however, flaring is still routinely used in oil production in countries such as Ecuador, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela. In general, both public and private companies use flaring to reduce costs in socially and environmentally vulnerable areas, known as “sacrifice zones,” where marginalization and poverty are exacerbated by the environmental degradation caused by oil production.

Oil wealth has never reached the Ecuadorian Amazon. Rather, the region is a major oil casualty zone where children – including girls in the case of gas flares – are among the most vulnerable population groups.

Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International

“By eliminating gas flares and committing to a transition to a fossil-fuel-free economy, Ecuador can become a leader in climate and environmental justice for the good of the planet now and in the future. Oil wealth has never reached the Ecuadorian Amazon. Rather, the region is a major oil casualty zone where children, including the girls in the case of gas flares, are one of the most vulnerable populations,” said Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

According to the World Bank, Ecuador is one of the 30 countries that flare the most gas in the world. By allowing the gas flares to continue burning, the country is continuing a highly harmful practice that threatens the lives, health and other rights of the country’s poorest people.

Amnesty International has found that at least 52 lighters are located within five kilometres of population centres, a distance that is potentially harmful to local communities and the environment.