Chile implements first climate change adaptation plan for water resources

Chile has officially implemented its first Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Water Resources (PACC-RH). Following approval by the Comptroller General of the Republic and publication in the Official Gazette, the plan establishes 10 measures and 35 actions designed to strengthen national water security.

The initiative aims to integrate human access to water, ecosystem protection, and resilience against droughts and floods. It is led by the General Directorate of Water (DGA) of the Ministry of Public Works, with technical support from the Ministry of the Environment and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Funding is provided by the Green Climate Fund through its Readiness program.

The plan addresses significant disparities in water access, noting that while urban potable water coverage reached 99.9% in 2022, only 57% of rural populations had access to public networks. Additionally, the plan seeks to manage high demand from productive sectors, as irrigated agriculture and livestock account for approximately 73% of the country's water consumption.