Extreme heat, drought and the effects of climate change are issues of concern in the country, but mainly in the Metropolitan region, since it is the second region in Chile to experience extreme heat waves (after the Atacama desert). Under this scenario is that the regional authorities signed an important alliance to combat extreme heat.
The Governor of the Metropolitan Region, Claudio Orregotogether with the vice president of the Atlantic Council and director of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, kathy baughmansigned this agreement that makes Santiago the first Latin American city to be part of the Leading Cities in action against extreme heat.
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Cities like Athens, Miami, among others; They are part of this alliance that brings together city leaders and experts to find ways to reduce temperatures in the face of climate change and protect the people who are affected by its consequences.
“We see it through the drought, which has us on the verge of rationing water, and we see it in the unexpected fires that our region suffers, and the common factor of these risks, are these heat waves that are killing more people. We have gladly accepted the invitation made to us by the Atlantic Council and the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation, to be part of this alliance of leading cities in action against extreme heat,” Orrego said.
Baughman valued the agreement, noting that “today is a very important day for us, our mission is to create a community that combats the climate crisis and today, through Governor Orrego, we incorporate Santiago into our team to work on measures for this condition. climate, which is killing more people as a silent killer.
Also present at the signing was the representative of the Leading Cities for Extreme Heat and former mayor of Quito, Mauritius Rhodeswho expressed the dangers of high temperatures.
“The increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves are going to affect more than 3.5 billion people by the year 2070, 1.6 billion of whom will live in urban areas. We have heard about the lethality of extreme heat, affecting particularly the most vulnerable populations. And extreme heat not only affects human health, but also the economy, jobs. Santiago de Chile is no stranger to the threat of extreme heat,” said the Ecuadorian.
First Latin American city
At the signing of the agreement, the national person in charge of the initiative was also appointed, which was left in the hands of the Head of resilient projects of the Regional Government, Cristina Huidobro.
“I am honored to be designated as the first leader in action against extreme heat in South America and the fourth worldwide. I appreciate the Governor’s confidence in promoting female leadership in climate action. And be clear that with this collaboration we will be able to working to position Santiago as a leading city in issues against extreme heat in the world is a tremendous challenge,” said Huidobro.
The expert in environmental management and Climate Action Champion of COP 25, Gonzalo Munoz, described this appointment and the agreement as important. “When we talk about heat waves, we are talking about 1.9 billion people affected in the world and the way to address it always begins with an act of leadership, such as properly implementing the tools or the appointment of the Official Manager in Santiago. This is one of those solutions and it reflects Governor Orrego’s innovative leadership,” he said.
Meanwhile, the regional authority insisted that “we want to prevent the costs, not only economic, but, above all, in human lives generated by the heat. How are we going to do it; sharing knowledge, sharing good practices and also, innovating in how we Santiago adapt to the climate crisis”.
In addition, Orrego presented the innovative FIC project for green roofs, carried out by the regional government. This idea seeks to combat heat islands in urban places where there is no vegetation.
