This is good news. Finally, it is ready to be sent to the Executive for its signature and promulgation, the project that establishes the Climate Change Framework Lawthe first of its kind in Latin America and which will regulate the new institutions of the sector and the instruments that allow it to be managed, in order to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality at the latest by the year 2050.
This happened following the Senate approved unanimously the initiative, valued transversally by all sectors, even when a debate was generated regarding the need to have adequate financing for its implementation and also regarding the possibility of anticipating 2040, the deadline for achieve carbon neutrality.
This project creates a legal framework that makes it possible to face the challenges posed by climate change and move towards a development low in greenhouse gas emissions, one of the main environmental objectives of Chile and the world. In addition, seeks to strengthen and give continuity to policies, plans, programs and actions, with a state gaze that transcends the governments of the day.
The content is divided into 12 points: Establishes the goal of carbon neutrality and the country’s resilience for 2050outlines clear objectives for resilience and adaptation, incorporates the concept associated with water security, recognizes the principles of non-regression and progressivity and incorporates the principles of ecosystem approach, equity and climate justice, territoriality, transparency and participation, among others.
Senator Ximena Órdenes, president of the Environment Commission, pointed out in the session that this law was a priority. “Chile cannot be oblivious to the challenge of mitigating and adapting to climate change. There has to be the political stature to advance the 2050 deadline for carbon neutrality. We can’t relax.”
Climate change is real and we are living it. “Various studies point to Chile as one of the most vulnerable countries… As a country we have been consistent with the international commitment, but more resources are required to implement this law,” Senator Ximena Rincón established in the instance.
Senator Guido Girardi also intervened. The “Climate Change Law is very important for the country, and although it reaffirms Chile’s commitment to comply with emission commitments, today it has a more symbolic than concrete and real dimension. Chile can do much more on climate change”.
Patricia Morales, general manager Meri Foundation, believes that the approval of the Climate Change Framework Law is a historic milestone, “not only for Chile but also for Latin America. Brand the country’s commitment to understanding climate change as a multidimensional phenomenon, which widely transcends the work of the Ministry of the Environment, to position itself as a cross-cutting agenda that must be coordinated by it, but pushed from all State departments”.
Carlos Esse, researcher at the Climate Change Unit of the Autonomous University of Chilepoints out that our country has given a very important step to face climate change and its potential effects. “The law will allow the implementation of effective measures aimed at reducing the production and concentration of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and adequately addressing the implementation of adaptation measures, important challenges disclosed in the latest IPCC report. Said actions that will contribute to consolidate our commitment to climate change, and to position ourselves as leaders in Latin America”.
National Climate Change Action Report
The initiative provides that the Ministry of the Environment will be the authority on climate change and it will be up to him to prepare the Long-Term Climate Strategy. He will also be in charge of the Nationally Determined Contribution which will contain Chile’s international commitments to mitigate the Emissions of greenhouse gases and implement adaptation measures.
In the same way, it will prepare the National Action Report on Climate Change, which will contain the policies, plans, programs and climate change measures.
In our country have been established the well-known environmental sacrifice zones“and we are not going to get tired of fighting so that the Quintero-Puchuncaví area do not continue to be. The development model needs to be sustained and sustainable, a greater effort must be made in terms of resources to implement this law”, added Senator Francisco Chahuán during the historic day.
Morales explains that Chile’s carbon neutrality by 2050 is a big step, “but still insufficient considering the urgency in which we find ourselves. In that sense, The present challenge is to build the norms and action plans that allow the forceful implementation of this Framework Law.adding both the public and private sectors, as well as civil society”.
This will be an instrument to comprehensively address this phenomenon. “The changes introduced seek to strengthen the application of the law in the territory, adaptation to climate change and control mechanisms. This law is going to be an effective instrument and solution for the new challenges”, concluded Senator Alfonso de Urresti during the session.
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