The Law Today

Ministry of the Environment – Law No. 21.455 Framework Law on Climate Change

14 Jun 2022

Introduction

On June 13, 2022, Law No. 21,455, Framework Law on Climate Change, was published in the Official Gazette.

The purpose of this law is (i) to achieve GHG emissions neutrality by 2050; (ii) to adapt
to climate change, reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience to the adverse effects of climate change; and (iii) comply with international commitments assumed by Chile in this area.

The Law establishes the mitigation goal for Chile, which will materialize through:

• The instruments of climate change management at the national level: the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the Long Term Climate Strategy, which permeate the Sectoral Mitigation and Adaptation Plans.
• Climate change management instruments at the regional level: Regional Climate Change Action Plans; and
• Management instruments at the local level: Community Climate Change Action Plans and Strategic Plans for Water Resources in Watersheds.

Likewise, GHG emission standards will be established, with the possibility of using GHG emission reduction or absorption certificates, obtained through the implementation of projects in Chile to comply with these standards.
It establishes an institutional framework for climate change, through national bodies such as the Ministries; regional bodies with the respective Regional Ministerial Secretariats and collaborating agencies in the management of climate change).

Strengthens access to information and citizen participation through the National System for Access to Information and Citizen Participation on Climate Change.

In the economic sphere, the Ministry of Finance is mandated to develop a Climate Change Financial Strategy.

It also introduces climate considerations to existing management instruments, such as land use and territorial planning instruments; disaster risk management; the Climate Change management; the Environmental Impact Assessment System; and the Pollutant Registration and Transfer Systemof Pollutants.

Finally, it amends several laws, such as Law No. 19.300 (Law on General Bases for the the Environment); No. 20.417 (which creates the Superintendency of the Environment and establishes its organic law); No. 20.600 (which creates the Environmental Courts); among others.

Contact

Should you require additional information on this matter, please contact: Javier Naranjo jnaranjo@jdf.cl and Martín Esser, messer@jdf.cl

JDF