Virtual workshops during January for the entire country will allow discussion of the problems, emphases and actions necessary to address the effects of climate change around water.

As part of the early participation process for the design of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Water Resources sector (PACC-RH), 6 virtual workshops are planned with representatives of key organizations and institutions from the different macrozones of the country.

The objective of these workshops, scheduled between January 9 and 19, is to present the main threats and vulnerabilities to water resources in each macrozone, in order to address adaptation needs in a participatory work dynamic.

In March and April, in-person workshops will be held with the indigenous peoples recognized by Chile, complementing this participation. This will allow the preparation of the preliminary draft of this plan, which also considers a Public Consultation, estimated for the months of June and July.

This Plan is led by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) through the General Directorate of Water (DGA), with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as the implementing agency and with the financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The Pontifical Catholic University (PUC) provides technical support in collaboration with a conglomerate of universities and study centers nationwide.

The Plan will establish measures that address four axes of water security in the next five years: water in adequate quantity and quality for human consumption, subsistence and sanitation; for conservation and ecosystem preservation; for the development of productive activities; and for the resilience of territories against threats and extreme climate events, such as floods and droughts.

Fundamental role of participation

The processes that accompany the development of this Plan are participatory and seek to represent diversity.

In this regard, the FAO representative in Chile, Eve Crowley, highlighted the workshops with the different sectors of society linked to water and the approach from a gender and multicultural perspective. “This is directly related to the possibilities of different social groups to face the impacts of climate change and develop adaptation and resilience capacities to a greater or lesser extent,” she said.

The general director of Water of the MOP, Rodrigo Sanhueza, stated that "The information provided in the participatory instances will serve as input to establish the main actions against the impacts of climate change, with the purpose of promoting water security in the sector, in its social, environmental and economic dimension.”

Finally, Sebastián Vicuña, director of the UC Global Change Center, added that “being able to consider the different realities of vulnerable groups, productive sectors and sensitive ecosystems in the vulnerability analysis is key to designing adaptation measures to advance towards water security.” .  

How to participate

Although the workshops of the northern macrozone A (regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta), central macrozone (regions of Valparaíso, Metropolitana, O'Higgins and Maule) and southern macrozone (Aysén and Magallanes) have already been held, they still remain. workshops to be carried out.

To participate in the workshops, from 9 a.m. to 13 p.m., you must register by completing a form according to the macrozone where you reside. https://snia.mop.gob.cl/pacc-rh/talleres-participativos

Additionally, in the context of the Plan, the General Directorate of Water of the MOP ordered an opinion survey that will be available at https://snia.mop.gob.cl/pacc-rh/inicio until January 18, 2024. This tool seeks to collect opinions and perceptions about vulnerability to climate change and possible adaptation measures in the field of water resources.

Source: PROMMRA