In cooperation with Switzerland, Chile approves its first emissions reduction project under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

This is an automated translation of the original release published in Spanish.

PRESS RELEASE from the Chilean Ministry of the Environment
October 6, 2025

Chile became the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to authorize an emissions mitigation project within the international cooperation framework of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. This authorization marks a historic milestone in the implementation of the country’s climate commitments.

The project, authorized by the Ministry of the Environment (MMA), involves replacing a coal-fired boiler with a biomass boiler at a plant in the Ñuble Region. This measure reduces greenhouse gas emissions and encourages the industrial sector’s participation in carbon markets, driving decarbonization at the regional level and throughout the Chilean economy.

The cooperation agreement between Chile and Switzerland was signed in December 2023 by the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas, and the Swiss Federal Councilor, Albert Rösti. This agreement allows Switzerland to invest in mitigation projects developed in Chile through the purchase of certified emissions reductions (ITMOs). The emission reductions represented by these certificates can be used by Switzerland to meet its climate goals, while Chile will receive direct investments estimated at up to $100 million, contributing to improving the quality of life, fulfilling the 2030 Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The authorization of this first project is the result of a rigorous evaluation process led by the Ministry of Environment (MMA), in coordination with sectoral authorities and the Swiss Federal Department of the Environment. The project was verified to meet the highest standards of additionality, transparency, and environmental and social integrity, ensuring that the climate benefits are additional to the commitments already made in Chile’s NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution).

This event not only represents a regulatory and institutional precedent for the country, but also positions Chile as a regional leader in international cooperation for carbon markets, as it is the first in the region to issue an authorization under this mechanism.