Yasuní: the Real Cost-Benefit

El Universo

Lean Right

Factuality

Ownership

The debate on Yasuní has historically been presented as a dilemma between economy and conservation. However, this dichotomy is too superficial to understand what is really at stake. Real cost-benefit analysis cannot be limited to immediate tax revenue or to the volume of exploitable barrels. It must include ethical values, invisible geomechanical costs and ecosystem benefits whose loss would be irreplaceable. Yasuní is not only defended by its b…