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International Conference on Climate Change Gathers Over 100 Municipalities in Chile

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In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Chilean Association of Municipalities (ACHM), the International Conference «Effective Planning to Confront the Climate Crisis: Opportunities and Challenges for Municipal Management» took place. The event was organized in collaboration with the Subsecretariat of Regional and Administrative Development (SUBDERE) and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in Latin America, funded by the European Union (EU).

«For the European Union, the role of local governments in the fight against climate change is crucial. Therefore, through the Global Covenant of Mayors project, we are delighted to see that, thanks to this initiative coordinated in Chile by AChM, municipalities across the country are progressing in planning and implementing mitigation and adaptation actions to climate change,» stated Ewout Sandker, Head of Cooperation at the EU.

The conference brought together representatives from over 100 municipalities in Chile working intelligently to address the challenges of climate change, which has had devastating effects on the country, including prolonged droughts, loss of glacier masses, abnormal rainfall, and unusually high temperatures.

A significant moment occurred during the presentation of the GCoM 2023 medals, symbolizing the efforts made to mitigate the effects of climate change in Chile. Communes such as Independencia, Peñalolén, Providencia, Santiago, Temuco, and Vitacura were highlighted.

Santiago's Mayor, Hiraci Hassler, emphasized, «Today, the climate crisis urgently challenges us. Any project, any community perspective, any city perspective requires us to confront the climate crisis and act immediately. This must be done with a national and global perspective, but real changes will only happen if we act at the local government level.»

Another notable moment was the delivery of their Communal Climate Action Plans, aiming to implement actions that enable concrete management of climate change. Municipalities presenting their plans included Ancud, El Quisco, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, Valdivia, and Vallenar.

Regarding this significant step for the municipality, Mayor Constanza Lizana of San Antonio stated, «We are extremely excited because today we have received this document that will allow us to implement a series of works and measures to help us move forward and overcome this water crisis and climate change that affects not only our commune but the entire world.»

This International Conference featured various national and international guests who shared their experiences and initiatives in climate matters, seeking to increase knowledge, generate learning, and explore the possibility of replicating other experiences in their territories.

About the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy:

The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy is the largest coalition of mayors and local leaders committed to climate action. With over 12,700 cities and local governments worldwide, the Covenant works to address climate change and accelerate the transition to a sustainable and resilient future. The Covenant's commitment is to help cities achieve their climate and energy goals and contribute to the global objectives of the Paris Agreement.

The Covenant of Mayors in Latin America alone consists of over 650 committed municipalities for climate action, aiming to make their cities leaders in addressing climate change. One of the actions to strengthen this leadership is the implementation of the Covenant's national strategies, which in Chile is carried out by ACHM, strengthening the collaboration alliance between this country and the European Union.

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