The researchers examined what caused Colombia's CO2 emissions and energy use to change between 1971 and 2017 and between 1975 and 2016. They used a method to break down the factors influencing emissions and energy use. They found that the rise in emissions was mostly due to wealth and population growth, but this was somewhat balanced by improvements in energy efficiency and a shift towards cleaner energy sources. The drop in energy use per unit of economic output was mainly because different industries used energy more efficiently, especially transportation and industry. Also, changes in the economy played a role. These findings can help shape Colombia's energy and environmental policies.