The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (also known as the Espoo Convention) is an agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the aim of which is to ensure that, when appropriate, a transboundary environmental impact assessment is carried out, guaranteeing the participation of countries likely to be affected by a project located outside their borders.

The delegation of Chile, as an observer country, learned about the deliberation process in different cases and their technical application. In addition, bilateral meetings were held with members of the Convention Secretariat and the Implementation Committee.

Based on this experience, key points were identified to improve the application of the Chilean national guidelines promulgated by the Environmental Assessment Service through the ORD. N°181275/2018, which provides instructions for the environmental impact assessment of projects located in the border zone or, in the case of projects, located outside the border zone, whose areas of influence are extended to it.

It should be noted, during the high-level segment of the event, the Chilean Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ms. Claudia Fuentes-Julio, read before the participating countries, the statement prepared by Chile, in which the country’s interest in this process was expressed.