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Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Chancellor Andrés Allamand He ratified the refusal of the Government of Sebastián Piñera to sign the Escazú Agreement, the first Latin American pact that seeks to guarantee access to information, participation and justice in environmental matters.
As reported by the minister, the government’s position “has not changed.” “The agreement, in the opinion of the Government and as it is proposed, is inconvenient for Chile. That is the reason why so far it has not subscribed, “he said.
Among the reasons put forward by the minister, are the “vagueness” that in the opinion of the Executive is presented in some principles of the agreement and the potential judicialization that the signing of the agreement could generate.
According to the Foreign Minister, they are exhausting the instances to evaluate the convenience of the agreement, looking at the compared cases of neighboring countries and arguments that have been given -especially in Mexico and Peru- and analyzing how the Escazú agreement would change environmental laws to Nacional level. “We are exhausting, these days, the analysis of four aspects that go to the bottom of the debate,” he said.
The pact, initially promoted by Chile and Costa Rica, has the date for its entry into force on September 26 and the countries of the region have until that day to ratify its subscription.
Allamand’s sayings were rejected by opposition senators. “I regret it but I want to tell you that sooner rather than later Chile will sign and ratify that treaty, I guarantee that,” said the PPD Ricardo Lagos Weber.
Meanwhile, the Senator RD Juan Ignacio Latorre He also questioned the government’s position, stating that “free trade agreements are convenient for Chile, but Environmental Justice agreements are not convenient for the country. This government is a disgrace ”.
For his part, Deputy of Social Convergence Diego Ibáñez indicated that “the reasons for not signing are unclear, confusing, they do not leave anyone satisfied. The Escazú agreement invites us to democratize environmental information, install solid mechanisms for citizen participation in projects that involve environmental impact, and increase protection for environmental activists in a region particularly threatened by the persecution of environmental leaders ”.
“Escazú is more and better democracy. While the other countries of the region adhere, Chile watches them in silence, what is the Government afraid of? ” questioned the parliamentarian.
Relegated environment
Allamand’s statement is the government’s last word, as the Undersecretary of the Environment, Javier Naranjo, announced yesterday before the Environment Commission of the Chamber of Deputies.
In this instance, convened to “receive the Minister of the Environment, in order to inform the reasons why the decision adopted by the Government of Chile persists as to not yet sign the Escazú Agreement”, the presence of Minister Carolina Schmidt. However, the discussion could not take place, as the Secretary of State excused herself alleging reasons of force majeure and the undersecretary attended in his replacement.
In the session, Naranjo made it clear that the final answer was made by Chancellor Andrés Allamand, in his attendance at the Senate RR Commission on Tuesday, since it is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that advises the President on treaty matters and international agreements.
From the environmental world they interpreted this as a clear sign of the preponderant role of RR.EE. regarding this environmental issue, relegating the Environment portfolio to a technical advisory function with no potential for decision regarding the treaty.
Meanwhile, the Escazú Champion for Latin America and the Caribbean, Sebastián Benfeld, questioned the attitude of the Government and said that “during today’s session the minister pointed out that the signing of Escazú is not convenient, for whom is it not convenient? For Chile or for polluting companies that receive fewer audits than an inn at parties homelands? Young people are already tired of environmental abuses and that the businesses of a few continue to be prioritized over the lives of many ”.
“We are less than 20 days before the deadline for signing, there is little time, but there is time, and that time is: now. I hope that the minister reconsiders and commits to a just and transparent transition, signing the Escazú Agreement today, ”he explained to The counter.
Opposition statement
Meanwhile, through a public declaration, the environmental commissions of twelve opposition parties, from the DC to the Broad Front, asked the Executive to sign the pact.
They also pointed out that “if the Agreement is not signed, the government must take responsibility for the consequences that lack of seriousness in its multilateral policies would bring.”
“The Escazú Agreement comes to settle a debt of justice with the citizenship that takes care of the environment, to protect it and to guarantee its rights”, and they accuse that this is “the last opportunity that this government has to demonstrate its commitment in the defense of the rights to the participation of citizens and international leadership in the climate and ecological crisis ”, they maintain.
They also mention in the letter that Latin America has become “the most dangerous region in the world to be an environmental activist, where more than 200 people were murdered in 2019”, highlighting the case of the activist Macarena Valdés. Against this, they assure that the Escazú pact reinforces “the protection of social and environmental leaders, the autonomy and participation of citizens.”
They sign the declaration Social Convergence, Democratic Revolution, Common Force, Communes Party, Liberal Party, Green Regionalist Federation Party, Communist Party, Progressive Party, Christian Democracy, Radical Party, Socialist Party and Party for Democracy.
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