Chile’s New Governance Structures Are Streamlining Net-zero Implementation

This case study describes how Chile's 2022 Climate Change Framework Law decentralized climate policy implementation, moving responsibility from the Ministry of the Environment to 17 government ministries and subnational authorities to accelerate the country's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

• Chile has established a legal road map for carbon neutrality by 2050, covering all sectors and gases except international shipping and aviation. This target was legally enshrined in the 2022 Climate Change Framework Law, following a long-term low-emission development strategy submitted to the UNFCC in 2021. The strategy includes interim targets for peak emissions in 2025 and an emissions cap for 2030.
• The Climate Change Framework Law shifted climate policy from a centralized model—where the Ministry of the Environment held sole responsibility—to a decentralized system. Responsibilities are now assigned to 17 government ministries with measurable indicators, as well as regional and municipal authorities.
• New national governance structures have been created to support implementation, including the Council of Ministers for Sustainability and Climate Change for vetting policies, a Scientific Advisory Committee of independent experts for policy advice, and the National Council for Sustainability and Climate Change for public participation. At the subnational level, Climate Change Committees have been established for all 16 regions.
• Chile has implemented accountability mechanisms and specific policy initiatives, including the development of sectoral carbon budgets in 2021 and the use of budgetary sanctions for sectors that fail to meet targets. Current initiatives include a coal exit, a 100% electric vehicle pledge, and afforestation plans.
• The government is working on rapid policy development, with procedural regulations for greenhouse gas emissions standards targeted for June 2023. Sectoral mitigation and adaptation plans are required by June 2025, while regional and municipal governments are developing action plans over a three-year period.

APA

World Resources Institute (2024). Chile’s New Governance Structures Are Streamlining Net-zero Implementation. https://www.wri.org/update/chiles-new-governance-structures-are-streamlining-net-zero-implementation

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Chile’s New Governance Structures Are Streamlining Net-zero Implementation. 2024. https://www.wri.org/update/chiles-new-governance-structures-are-streamlining-net-zero-implementation.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Chile’s New Governance Structures Are Streamlining Net-zero Implementation |date=6 March 2024 |url=https://www.wri.org/update/chiles-new-governance-structures-are-streamlining-net-zero-implementation |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2024chiles, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Chile’s New Governance Structures Are Streamlining Net-zero Implementation}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://www.wri.org/update/chiles-new-governance-structures-are-streamlining-net-zero-implementation}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }