A Significant Step Towards Sustainability in Chile: Climate Planning Workshop in Ancud
Ancud, Chile, May 30, 2024 – As part of the National Strategy for Chile of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and with funding from the European Union, the Chilean Association of Municipalities organized the Climate Planning and Action Workshop in Chile, “An Exercise in Peer Learning, Networking, and Visibility of Gaps and Achievements,” in the Chilean city of Ancud on May 28 and 29.
The event brought together more than 50 representatives from 25 subnational governments committed to climate action to share experiences and strengthen their capacities in the development of Communal Climate Change Action Plans (PACCC).
The workshop featured the in-person participation of the mayor of El Quisco, José Jofré Bustos; the acting mayor of Ancud, Leyla Aguayo Valenzuela; Rodrigo Arias, representative of the Chilean Association of Municipalities; and the Ministerial Secretary of the Los Lagos region, Alejandra de la Fuente.
Pía Hevia, Cooperation Officer at the European Delegation in Chile, emphasized the importance of being part of a global network like the Covenant, which includes over 13,000 cities worldwide. She noted that climate change, being a priority for the European Union, requires a collaborative effort, highlighting the crucial role of cooperation and coordination among different actors.
During the event, interactive sessions and roundtables allowed participants to exchange knowledge and best practices in planning and implementing climate strategies. Key topics discussed included opportunities for climate action within the Covenant framework, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and the importance of inter-municipal cooperation to address environmental challenges.
Caroll Owen, Head of the Climate Action and Environmental Strategies Unit of the Municipality of Peñalolén (the Chilean municipality representing the Covenant’s Mayors Forum), emphasized three fundamental values of the GCoM. First, she highlighted the connection between municipalities, positioning our communities as key players on the international agenda. She then stressed the focus on collaboration over competition, which strengthens collective capacity and decentralizes climate action. Finally, she emphasized the crucial technical support that our cities receive, enabling local teams to lead initiatives and share their experiences globally.
Rodrigo Arias, the organizer of the workshop and coordinator of international affairs of the Chilean Association of Municipalities, which presides over and coordinates the Covenant in Chile, stated that the workshop achieved its purpose of generating peer learning, fostering networking, and highlighting gaps and achievements. He also praised the high level of technical teams and the political support they have for carrying out their actions, projects, and initiatives. Additionally, he underscored the importance of holding these meetings in regions, contributing to decentralization.
During this workshop, roundtables were also held so that participating municipalities could share their experiences in developing adaptation and mitigation plans as well as governance. The “Roadmap for Climate Management at the Communal Scale in Chile” was presented, a document developed by the Ministry of the Environment and the Inter-American Development Bank, offering strategies and practical tools for the development of PACCC.
Finally, the workshop met its training and awareness-raising objectives and succeeded in motivating new municipalities to join the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.
In Chile, a total of 24 communes and one regional government are signatories to the Covenant, demonstrating the ongoing commitment between the European Union Delegation in Chile and the Chilean Association of Municipalities, which has successfully supported municipalities in their transition towards effective and resilient environmental sustainability.
