Building Colombia’s Nature Economy Could Create Hundreds of Thousands of New Jobs

As the world shifts toward a more resilient, low-carbon economy, Colombia has a significant opportunity to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in emerging industries such as green infrastructure, clean transport and the circular economy.

Globally, this transition is expected to generate approximately 375 million jobs. Around 280 million jobs will be linked to adaptation, with 195 million of those adaptation jobs linked to nature-based solutions and regenerative agriculture.

As the second-most biodiverse country in the world, Colombia’s ecosystems represent enormous untapped economic potential across even more emerging industries, such as ecotourism, bioeconomy and sustainable exports. Nature tourism and agribusiness alone could create 775,000 jobs by 2035, with many of these jobs concentrated in Córdoba, Atlántico, Nariño, Caldas, Magdalena and Bolívar, expanding economic opportunities in regions whose vast natural landscapes and agricultural potential make them well-positioned for these industries. Colombia's agricultural capacity, strategic natural ecosystems and regional diversity also position it as a potential leader in nature-based economic development across Latin America.

Colombia’s government has already identified more than $32 billion in green investment opportunities spanning renewable energy, ecosystem protection and sustainable agriculture — sectors where the country already holds a competitive advantage.