Welcome to the Earth.Org Global Sustainability Index, where Earth.Org examines the policies and actions regarding the environment of every nation on earth. Combining the most respected global indexes on pollution, climate change, policy, energy, oceans, biodiversity we have produced an overall Global Index, which will be updated annually. This is the Global Sustainability Index scorecard for Chile.
In October 2019, Chile released its updated NDC with more ambitious targets for 2030 and it is currently formulating a new Climate Change Framework Law whose main objectives are a transition to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This gives the impression that the country views the climate crisis as one that is imperative to overcome.
However, it is sending out mixed signals. After announcing in early 2018 the aim to phase-out unabated coal-fired electricity generation by 2040 (20% of its coal electricity capacity), around the same time, a new 375 MW coal-fired plant (equivalent to about 1.8 TWh per year) started operations and two of its eight oldest ones (equivalent to 0.6 TWh per year) were closed. This means the country opened a new coal-fired plant that will produce three times more electricity than the two that were closed combined.
It is important that Chile acts on its commitments instead of just espousing support to mitigate the climate crisis.
- Originally deemed “Highly Insufficient,” Chile’s goals have been updated in its proposed October 2019 draft Paris Agreement update.
- If met, these new pledges could be 1.5˚C compatible. These measures include economy-wide emission reductions, forestry protection policies and a strict carbon budget.
- Proper implementation of these policies would make Chile peak its emissions in 2023, well ahead of schedule for achieving carbon neutrality in 2050.
- The country still sends mixed signals, closing old coal coal-fired power plants only to replace them with a new, much more powerful coal based power plant.
You might also like: Global Emissions (2016)
References:
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Biodiversity, Policy: Sachs, J., Schmidt-Traub, G., Kroll, C., Lafortune, G., Fuller, G. (2019): Sustainable Development Report 2019. New York: Bertelsmann Stiftung and Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
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Oceans: Halpern, Benjamin S., et al. “An index to assess the health and benefits of the global ocean.” Nature 488.7413 (2012): 615-620.
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Pollution: Wendling, Z. A., Emerson, J. W., Esty, D. C., Levy, M. A., de Sherbinin, A., et al. (2018). 2018 Environmental Performance Index. New Haven, CT: Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy. https://epi.yale.edu/
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Climate Change: Climate Change Performance Index; Jan Burck, Ursula Hagen, Niklas Höhne, Leonardo Nascimento, Christoph Bals, ISBN 978-3-943704-75-4, 2019
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Energy: Enerdata –World Energy Statistics – Yearbook.
World Energy Statistics
