Climate Politics
Ecuadorians Opt to Restrict Oil and Mining Ahead of Run-off Vote
- Voters strongly favor shutting down Amazon park oil field
- Most Quito voters don’t want new mining projects near capital
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Ecuadorians voted to shut a major oil field in the Amazon region and ban new mining concessions near Quito, sending a clear message to the next government on prioritizing environmental protection over natural resource development.
With about 93% of votes counted Monday, 59% favored closing the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini field run by Petroecuador in a national park. Separately, most voters in Quito chose to cease the granting of mineral permits in six parishes northwest of the capital. The two polls were part of Ecuador’s snap election Sunday.