Amanda Maxwell, Latin America Advocate, Washington, DC

Chile

A new study by the University of Chile found that the environmental impact assessments for 100 large mining and energy projects were missing necessary information and lacked credibility. The study states that “without exception, the information presented…was very limited or non-existent, not complying with the minimum reliability requisites.” It also showed that consultants who provide environmental impact assessments have a large role in this. Ignacio Toro, Executive Director of the National Environmental Service, upheld the report’s findings: “if the investor does not want to recognize the impacts, for example, of a large thermoelectric plant on air, they will contract for a study and a model that in the end reflects that there are no significant impacts.” (La Segunda 9/22/2012) 

Thirty-five members of the European Parliament, from different parties and countries, signed a letter criticizing HidroAysén, the hydroelectric proposal in Patagonia. The letter stated that the project “would seriously and irreversibly alter the delicate environmental, social and economic balances of the region which has chosen other priorities for its own development.” They called on Chile to instead develop its non-conventional renewable energy resources. (Radio Universidad de Chile 9/28/2012)

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