MAY 17, 2019

President Piñera, Ministers and State Powers sign a commitment to promote sustainable policies

This initiative introduces good environmental practices in Chile’s public agencies, such as improving their waste management, using water and energy more efficiently, promoting sustainable transport and reducing paper consumption. Nearly 30 public agencies with 12,000 employees are expected to join the program this year.

On Friday, President Sebastián Piñera, along with the Environment Minister, Carolina Schmidt, and other Ministers, senior officials and representatives of the Legislative and Judicial Powers, signed a commitment for all State organizations to adopt a sustainable environmental policy to contribute to caring for the planet and mitigate the effects of climate change.

“Starting with the State, we can make a very substantial change in the way we take care of our planet, promoting good environmental practices," said the President in a ceremony at La Moneda Palace.

The goal of the "Estado Verde” (Green State) program is for public institutions to adopt good environmental practices, such as improving their waste management, using water and energy more efficiently, promoting the use of sustainable transport, reducing paper consumption, fostering recycling and sustainable procurement, among other initiatives.

“Chile is undoubtedly making a serious effort to become a greener country, both in our own interest and because of our moral obligation to the rest of the world, to ourselves and to future generations," added President Piñera.

The public agencies that join the program will form a Green State Committee, made up of agency directors and employees. They will oversee the progress of environmental goals and work together to successfully implement the program.

There will also be an accreditation process to confirm that agencies are indeed developing sustainable measures.

“We want this to be an example, because we can all change the way we do things," said the President.

Nearly 30 public agencies with a total of 12,000 employees are expected to join the program this year. This figure is set to rise to 140 public institutions by 2022.