Our Work

Regional Climate Change Action Plan for Arica and Parinacota

Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan

A climate roadmap for the far north of Chile

Client

Ministerio de Medio Ambiente

Population

263.700

Schedule

2023

Climate Mitigation

Climate Adaptation

Greenhouse Gas Inventories

The Problem

The Arica and Parinacota Region in northern Chile—located in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest areas on Earth—is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including water scarcity, flooding due to intense rainfall, rising temperatures and higher sea levels. It urgently needs a clear, participatory roadmap to adapt to changing weather and reduce its emissions to net zero by 2050, in line with national laws.

The Problem

How can Arica and Parinacota achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 while reducing the impact of extreme weather and natural disasters?

758

ktCO2eq greenhouse gas emissions (2020)

24,3%

of housing in poor or irreparable condition (2020)

The Solution

SSG supported the Regional Government of Arica and Parinacota in developing a Climate Change Action Plan with 16 measures to address droughts, floods, heat waves, wetland loss, and health risks, integrating technical knowledge, citizen participation, and institutional coordination in line with Chile’s Framework Law on Climate Change.

The process, led by SSG, included a detailed analysis of climate risks, emissions, and vulnerabilities, as well as participatory workshops with over 50 stakeholders, including from the public and private sectors and civil society. SSG worked with the Regional Government to prioritize adaptation and mitigation measures informed by community feedback across key sectors such as water resources, biodiversity, energy, transport, and health. The plan seeks to guide regional climate action toward resilient, low-emission development by aligning with existing territorial and environmental planning instruments. It represents a milestone for regional climate governance, connecting local commitments with national and international objectives.

The Outcome

The Regional Climate Change Action Plan includes:

16

priority adaptation and mitigation measures

54

adaptation actions to address the 70 climate risks

24

mitigation measures to reduce energy, industrial, waste, agricultural and land-use emissions

Outcome

Key Takeaways

Data-driven tools guide climate action priorities

SSG used the Analytica modeling tool to prioritize actions to reduce emissions. The methodology followed six steps, starting with a review of the local context and data collection. This information was used to build and calibrate an emissions inventory, develop a business-as-usual scenario, and assess different decarbonization pathways to identify the most effective mitigation measures.

Identifying adaptation measures address multiple climate threats

The Arica and Parinacota region faces a complex scenario: droughts, floods, heat waves, loss of wetlands, and health threats linked to the proliferation of vectors and the increase in communicable diseases fueled by changing climate conditions. The plan addresses this diverse set of risks with 11 priority measures that seek to integrate local knowledge, strengthen institutional capacities, and promote targeted solutions for ecosystems, communities, and productive sectors.

Making housing safer and more resilient to climate threats

In Arica and Parinacota, informal urban expansion and exposure to extreme rainfall and drought make it urgent to strengthen and climate-proof communities. The plan proposes measures such as land-use regularization, housing improvements, and urban redesign to address climate risks and reduce territorial vulnerability.

When we set out to develop a plan for a territory that stretches from the Andean highlands to the Pacific coast, we had to bring together very different social, ecological, and economic realities. That meeting of worlds became the heart of a truly regional plan.

Sebastián Bonelli, Project Lead, SSG

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