Since the enactment of the Environmental Law (“Ley de Bases del Medio Ambiente”), of 1994, Chile has defined its environmental institutional structure. From this point onwards a legal definition of climate change was introduced and the Ministry of the Environment was designated responsible for devising public policies in this area.

However, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), climate policy should not be solely be under the Environmental Ministry’s remit, as it is a global as well as local problem, that operates at various levels.

Due to this complex context, there is a need to strengthen and improve our understanding of the science-policy interface, in order to make better-informed decisions. The role of science in defining climate change policy in Chile is of fundamental importance, considering the country’s goals to achieve a low-carbon economy through its commitment to an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), through the Paris Agreement.

Researchers at (CR)2 have played a significant role in these discussions and in providing scientific evidence to support the above observations. We foresee an enhanced contribution going into the future as we emphasize problem- and solution-oriented research, strengthen understanding of the policy-science interface, and increase capacities to carry out this research more efficiently.

The inclusion of senior natural scientists in the governance and policy-science interface team, as well as the expected interaction of this line with other research lines, is intended to close the gaps between science and policy needs at an early stage, facilitating the Center’s impact in the public arena both nationally and internationally.