Power, politics and ecology: a conversation with Tatiana Acevedo Guerrero

How do power structures shape environmental crises? What role does colonial history play in sustainability issues today? And how can scholars, activists, and policymakers work toward meaningful change?

For students eager to explore these questions—and take an active role in addressing them—Utrecht University offers a two-year Master’s programme in Sustainable Development.

We recently spoke with Dr. Tatiana Acevedo Guerrero, Assistant Professor at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development and lecturer in the programme’s Politics, Ecology, and Society (PES) track. In this conversation, Acevedo Guerrero, who teaches political ecology and ethnographic research methods, shares insights on water governance and the deep-rooted links between colonial history and environmental degradation. We discuss the challenges of technological solutions, the urgency of redistribution, and the role of young scholars in shaping a more just and sustainable world.

How did you end up becoming interested in political ecology?

I studied anthropology and political studies in Bogotá, Colombia, mainly focusing on violence because at the time Colombia was going through an armed conflict. Later I left to do a PhD in Geography at the University of Montreal in Canada, where I had the opportunity to work in a project on urban water access in Colombia and I just fell in love with political ecology—the study of environmental phenomena that puts history and power relations at the centre. When I returned to Colombia for fieldwork I was able to listen to stories told from different angles, not only conflict or violence. These stories were more about mobilization, about living and thriving in an urban context. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to work here in the Netherlands and conduct studies on water governance and urban natures in the Global South in places besides Colombia, such as Mozambique and Martinique.

The Politics, Ecology and Society (PES) track of the Sustainable Development master’s is perfect for students that are planning a future in activism, non-governmental organizations, electoral politics, and academia

What is the focus of the Politics, Ecology and Society (PES) track of the Sustainable Development master’s programme?

The PES track studies environmental and sustainability phenomena by putting power relations at the centre. We study how ecological problems and the environmental crisis in general are at their core problems of power asymmetries. We highlight the colonial roots of environmental degradation, and flesh out how gender and/or income inequalities are related to sustainability issues like water access, food security or pollution. The track itself is very political because we not only study power but also aim to bring about change. In that sense, the track is perfect for students who are planning a future in activism, non-governmental organizations, electoral politics, and academia.

How do you view the role of technology or innovation in solving sustainability problems in the field?

When I teach, I try to highlight the limits of technological optimism. This is because in many cases basic redistribution between or within countries and cities can hold the most effective solutions. For example, every city tends to have places where water is abundant and places where water is scarce. Sometimes in times of drought, it's easier to say ‘let’s build a desalination plant’ or ‘let’s drill deeper for groundwater’ than to change policy and distribute water in a more sustainable and equitable way.

San Andres, a Colombian Caribbean island I study provides the perfect example to explain this. Throughout history the local tourism industry has drilled and pumped groundwater to access treated water 24/7, while residents of the island, who are mostly low income, Afro descendant communities, struggle with water intermittence and scarcity. In 2016, after communities took to the streets, the national government decided to build two desalination plants. The assumption was that it would solve everything, but what ended up happening was that hotels got access to even more water and local community is still struggling. In a situation like this, where power imbalances are huge you can use technology to “make” more water available, but it won't fix anything. It will make some people wealthier, but it won’t make life in the city better. We need governments and economic elites to believe that all communities are deserving of services like water. It’s a huge shift that’s both cultural and structural in nature.

For someone interested in studying and playing a role in finding solutions to such complex issues, how difficult is it to make an impact?

I think this type of thinking can lead to pessimism. More than asking, ‘what will be my own impact be?’, which is a very individualistic approach, I would urge young scholars and students to ask themselves ‘how can I understand this better?’, so that they can be part of the resistance, part of a tide that tries to protect rights and access to clean water, land and air for everyone. It's about understanding problems better to at least avoid naïvely embracing solutions or being ignorant of their underpinnings. The new generation is amazing because they have the drive to be organizers and dedicate themselves to mobilization, dissent, and activism.

In the PES track we learn how the history of colonialism, empire, and slavery is deeply entangled with the history of environmental degradation

What is your impression of the decoloniality discussion, and how does that play out in the Politics, Ecology and Society (PES) track?

Power, coloniality, gender and race are hot topics, but they should be anchored in a specific context and situation. In the case of the study of sustainability at Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, our students have asked for more discussion around the colonial underpinnings of the environmental crisis. In the PES track we learn how the history of colonialism, empire, and slavery is deeply entangled with the history of environmental degradation. For example, we study the genocide of the Banda Islands in what is today the Indonesian archipelago, which took place simultaneously to the start of environmental destruction via the Dutch nutmeg trade monopoly. This period is also linked to cultural movements like the Dutch Golden Age, whose art reflects the same era when Dutch companies were destroying ecosystems all over its empire. By examining these connections, we can better understand how the history of Dutch colonialism relates to the climate crisis today.

The Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development is an internationally renowned research centre. How is this reflected in the Sustainable Development Master’s?

I think for a programme to hit the mark there needs to be an organic connection with fieldwork and empirical research. Not only using examples in class, but also because you want students to see that sustainability is a field that must be transparent and meaningful for the public. In PES track we study many different case studies fresh from the field, and our research is always grounded in fieldwork, which could be here in the Netherlands, far away, rural, or urban.

What advice do you have for students interested in joining the Politics, Ecology and Society track?

For prospective students my advice is to be willing to learn and to unlearn things. For many of my students, this becomes an integral part of their identity and future. I know from experience that this takes a lot of effort, so the question is: Are you willing to put in the time and passion? Are you ready to take discussions seriously and embrace graduate school for what it is—an amazing opportunity to read and write and sit down and engage in meaningful conversations? University is not just a place to meet interesting and passionate people and where great ideas and movements emerge—it’s also a privilege. That’s why giving it your all is important, rather than just going halfway.