Columbia University and Chilean Research Centers Join Forces to Support Climate Action Plans
Three Chilean municipalities will receive expert support in developing critical climate action plans through a new partnership between Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness and leading Chilean research institutions.
Three Chilean municipalities will receive expert support in developing critical climate action plans (PACCCs) through a new partnership between Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) and leading Chilean research institutions. The initiative, "Strengthening Capacities and Civic Participation for Climate-Resilient Communities in Chile," will help municipalities meet requirements under Chile's 2022 Climate Change Framework Law while strengthening local climate resilience.
The partnership unites Columbia's NCDP, the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP), the Columbia Global Center in Santiago, the Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2), and the Institute for Disaster Resilience (Itrend) to support the municipalities of Alto del Carmen (Atacama Region), Coquimbo (Coquimbo Region), and San José de Maipo (Metropolitan Region of Santiago).
These municipalities emerged from a competitive selection process involving 65 applicants. Selection criteria included each region's socio-ecological significance, climate change vulnerability, environmental challenges, and demonstrated commitment to climate action.
The program is funded by Columbia Global through Columbia World Projects.
A Participatory Approach to Climate Resilience
Chile’s Climate Change Framework Law mandates that all municipalities develop PACCCs by June 2025. However, many local governments face financial and human resource challenges in meeting this requirement. In response, the project will provide technical assistance to the three mentioned municipalities, integrating strategies for climate adaptation and disaster resilience into local plans. The initiative also emphasizes community engagement by encouraging the participation of local leaders and residents in decision-making processes related to climate impacts.
This initiative will be carried out in two phases: the first, from October 2024 to June 2025, will focus on developing the PACCCs; the second, from July 2025 to June 2026, will accompany the implementation and monitoring of these plans.
For more information, email:
- Carla Magri: cm4144@columbia.edu
- Gemita Navarrete: gemita.navarrete@itrend.cl
- Michael Lieberherr: michael.lieberherr@uchile.cl
