Chile
Introduction
Chile joined the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) in 2012 and serves on the Biogas Subcommittee.
Chile has a strong framework for climate action with ambitious strategies for methane emissions reductions and improvements to energy efficiency and environmental resilience across all sectors. These measures include a commitment to achieving net neutrality, a national phaseout of coal, and an increase in methane recovery at waste treatment sites. Chile is a global leader in climate action and participates in multiple international agreements and programs. Chile served as the President of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) in 2019.
Chile is currently active on the Biogas Subcommittee.
- Introduction
- Methane Emissions Summary
- Methane Commitments and Plans
- Methane Actions
- Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
- GMI Delegates
Last Updated: October 2024
Methane Emissions Summary
In 2010, methane accounted for 90.2% of the waste sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. Waste sector emissions started to decrease in 2006 due to an increase in methane recovery activities at managed and unmanaged landfills. In 2010, 33.5% of all methane emissions were recovered, mitigating a total of 1,228.3 gigagrams carbon dioxide equivalent (GgCO2eq).
Emission Trend in the Waste Sector, 1990-2010
Landfill Methane Emitted Versus Recovered, 1990-2010
Chile Ministry of the Environment, Chile’s National Greenhous Gas Inventory, 1990-2010. https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/chlnire.pdf
Methane Commitments and Plans
Methane mitigation efforts in Chile are guided by national and international commitments and plans. Chile also engages in many partnerships dedicated to addressing methane.
National
- Chile published its Fourth Biennial Update Report of Chile on Climate Change in 2021, which includes measures to reduce methane emissions.
- Chile’s Fourth National Communication on Climate Change to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was published in 2021 and includes measures related to methane.
- Chile’s Nationally Determined Contributions were updated in 2020 and confirmed the country’s commitment to climate action and emissions reductions, including methane. Chile’s goal is to reach climate neutrality by 2050, and achieve a sustained decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions peaking no later than 2025.
International
- Chile joined the European Union to launch the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) in 2021 at the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP26), committing to reducing global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
- The Canada-Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement was launched in 2018. The agreement focuses on combating climate change through bilateral international collaboration and includes activities that support the implementation of Chile’s NDCs. Chile and Canada partnered on the Reciclo Orgánicos Program to reduce methane emissions in the solid waste sector.
- Chile joined the UN to sign a Host Country Agreement for COP25 in June 2019, and served as the president for the climate conference held in December 2019.
- Chile has been a partner of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition since 2012, supporting activities to reduce methane and other short-lived climate pollutants.
Methane Actions
The following highlights a sampling of actions taken by Chile to address methane, organized by GMI sector.
Biogas Sector
- The Reciclo Orgánicos Program, established under the Canada-Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement, aims to reduce methane gas generated from the decomposition of organic waste. The program diverts over 6,000 metric tons of organic waste from landfills each year. (2017)
Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
Explore the following websites to learn more about the government ministries addressing greenhouse gas emissions , including methane-specific programs.
GMI Delegates
| Committee/Subcommittee | Delegate Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Biogas Subcommittee | Claudia Guerrero | Ministry of Environment of Chile |