José “Pepe” Mujica, former president of Uruguay who passed away on Tuesday, left an environmental legacy for the Latin American region and the world.
Recognized for his humility and coherence, he dedicated much of his life to promoting a fairer and more balanced relationship between humanity and nature.
José “Pepe” Mujica’s Environmental Legacy
In 2022, during the Youth Climate Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean (RCOY) held in Costa Rica, Mujica delivered a strong message: he called on the new generations to rethink the current culture and to question the foundations of the dominant civilizational model.
José Pepe Mujica. (Photo: Wikipedia).
“The ecological problem has a basis: the type of predatory civilization that we have developed, where economic values are above everything else,” he stated.
This perspective was highlighted by Claudio Gordillo, director of the COLSECOR Foundation, who pointed out that Mujica “challenges us as a society by questioning the type of development we pursue.” According to Gordillo, his thinking is “an invitation to reassess the meaning of progress and to place life and environmental balance at the center.”
For Mujica, the ecological crisis cannot be solved without changing the cultural and economic foundation of our way of life. His message goes beyond technical environmentalism: it demands a profound transformation of the system.
Critique of Consumer Society
One of the constant themes in his discourse has been the critique of consumerism and planned obsolescence. Mujica warned that we are immersed in a logic that prioritizes the accumulation of goods over human happiness.
“How much do we throw away, wasting energy and human effort, because the essential thing is not life, but accumulation,” he expressed.
This critical stance positions him as a reference point for thought that links social justice with environmental justice.
Advances in Clean Energy during his Administration
During his presidency (2010-2015), Uruguay took firm steps towards a sustainable energy matrix. Thanks to clear public policies, more than 90% of the country’s electricity came from renewable sources, such as wind energy, biomass, and solar.
These actions positioned Uruguay as one of the leading countries in energy transition in the region and consolidated Mujica’s approach of thinking long-term and for future generations.
Regional Environmental Cooperation
During his tenure, he also promoted bilateral dialogue to address environmental conflicts. One of the milestones was the agreement reached with Argentina for the joint monitoring of the Botnia pulp mill and the care of the Uruguay River, a gesture of environmental diplomacy in defense of common goods.
Mujica’s thinking and actions continue to inspire leaders, environmentalists, and youth throughout the continent. His call to live with conscious austerity, prioritizing collective well-being over consumption, remains a guiding principle for those seeking a more sustainable society.
Mujica asked to rest next to Manuela, his three-legged dog and most loyal companion
The deep bond of Pepe Mujica with animals is also part of his ethical and human legacy.
Mujica with his dog Manuela. (Photo: El Observador).
He even asked that his remains rest next to Manuela, his memorable three-legged dog, whom he considered his most loyal companion during his years in government.
“She has been with me for 18 years… I love animals a lot, the more I know people,” he expressed. Manuela passed away in 2018 and was buried on his farm, the same place where Mujica wishes to be laid to rest.
