This page contains a description of Peru’s autocratization episode, as well as an analysis of its environmental performance during the autocratization episode using literature and EPI data.
Democratic performance
Peru is rated “partly free” by Freedom House (2025), and according to V-Dem, it is an electoral democracy (V-Dem Institute, 2025, p. 14).
Between 2016 and 2020, there were continuous clashes between the executive and legislative branches in Peru. This has led to impeachments, dissolutions and resignations, which contributed to the prolongation of the crisis (Barandiarán, 2025).
In 2022, president Pedro Castillo attempted a self-coup and was impeached by congress (V-Dem Institute, 2025, p. 25). This has polarized Peru, and some people protested against his removal (International Center for Transitional Justice, 2025). During those protests, people were killed extrajudicially (Amnesty International, 2023).
In 2024, the Peruvian Congress passed laws and adopted other decisions that undermined judicial independence, weakened democratic institutions and hindered investigations into organized crime, corruption and human rights violations (Human Rights Watch, 2025).
Environmental performance according to literature
Peru faces significant environmental problems. Due to the political instability, policy development has been slow (Climate Action Tracker, 2025a). Deforestation reached a two-decade high in 2020 (Climate Action Tracker, 2025b). Due to an amendment to a law, the requirement that landowners or companies get state authorization before converting forested land to other uses was abolished. This was criticized for potentially legitimizing illegal deforestation (Euronews, 2025). Peru continues to invest in fossil fuels, has approved new oil extraction projects and planned to increase oil and gas production by 24% in 2025, which goes against Peru’s own climate targets. (Climate Action Tracker, 2025a).
Peru has also had some positive policy developments, however. Peru has established a strong legal basis for climate action. It has also taken first steps to promote green hydrogen as part of its energy transition. Next, the share of renewable energy in electricity generation has increased. Lastly, Peru has introduced a law to promote green hydrogen development (Climate Action Tracker, 2025a).
Environmental performance according to EPI
The area marked green is the autocratization episode.
Peru’s CO2 performance dropped significantly between 2006 and 2010. During the autocratization episode, it improved slightly. The CO2 performance has been increasingly positive since around 2013.
Conclusion
Peru has had significant political instability in the 2010s and 2020s, and there has been weakening of democratic institutions. The country continues to rely on fossil fuels, but has also taken some steps to take action against climate change. Peru’s performance has been improving since around 2013, a trend which continued during the autocratization episode.
literature
Amnesty International. (2023). Peru: Lethal racism — Extrajudicial executions and unlawful use of force by Peru’s security forces (Index No. AMR 46/6761/2023). https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr46/6761/2023/en/
Barandiarán, A. (2025). Un presidencialismo a la deriva: Diseño institucional y crisis recurrente en el Perú (2016-2020). Politai: Revista de Ciencia Política, 16(26), 17−30. https://doi.org/10.18800/politai.202501.001
Climate Action Tracker. (2025a). Peru: Country summary. https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/peru/
Climate Action Tracker. (2025b).Peru: Policies & action. https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/peru/policies-action/
Euronews. (2025, April 16). Indigenous communities push back against Peru law change that could accelerate Amazon deforestation. Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/04/16/indigenous-communities-push-back-against-peru-law-change-that-could-accelerate-amazon-defo
Freedom House. (2025). Peru. Freedom House. https://freedomhouse.org/country/peru/freedom-world/2025
Human Rights Watch. (2025). Peru. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/peru
International Center for Transitional Justice. (2025, March 4). Peruvian ex-President Castillo is on trial for a failed attempt to dissolve Congress. https://www.ictj.org/latest-news/peruvian-ex-president-castillo-trial-failed-attempt-dissolve-congress
V-Dem Institute. (2025). Democracy Report 2025. University of Gothenburg. https://www.v-dem.net/documents/60/V-dem-dr__2025_lowres.pdf