**3. Contextual background for Chile and Colombia**

#### **3.1 Progress toward sustainability in Chile**

According to Bergamini *et al.* [23], the most important event in terms of environmental care in Chile occurred in 1994, when the General Bases of the Environment Law (No. 19,300) was passed, which established a broad framework for environmental protection in Chile. As Piña [24] suggests, and as its name indicates, the law defined the fundamental principles of environmental regulation. Its main objective was to begin the process of digitizing and consolidating environmental regulations in the country; at that time, the responsibility for this type of regulation was dispersed among various state agencies. In 2010, the law was reformed and the new law (No. 20.417) created the Ministry of the Environment [25, 26] (known by its Spanish acronym, MMA) together with the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) and the Superintendency for the Environment (SMA).

The MMA is in charge of promoting sustainable development. The main objective of the ministry is to improve the quality of life of Chileans through the creation of new public and social policies that allow the efficient regulation of citizen practices, as well as promote environmental education in the country [27, 28].

With regard to environmental problems in Chile, there is evidence of a growing depletion of natural reserves and resources. It has therefore been necessary to adopt measures in this respect, as highlighted by Gentes [29, 30], "the increase in environmental conflicts, together with the growing iniquities and externalities of the neoliberal system with regard to resources and environment, led to the search for a broad consensus and the concertation of multiple interests and actors" (p. 3).

Because of this search for a consensus and concertation, major progress has been made on environmental issues. Moyano *et al.* [31, 32] note that important and highly political debates on the climate crisis have been induced, and these debates have given rise to the enactment of a series of laws that have given life to an institutional framework that promotes good practices and has been guiding Chile toward sustainable development.

Nevertheless, regarding Law No. 20.417, Piña [24] notes that in the 20 years since its formulation and implementation, the system has not undergone any major changes and, therefore, the law should be comprehensively revised. The objective should be a

#### *Experiences of Socio-Environmental Organizations and Movements in the Framework… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.106282*

root and branch strengthening of the framework, according to the new demands of society, so that it can achieve an institutionality that is validated by citizens and recognized by all sectors, and can adapt to the various scenarios produced by modernity.

A 2019 report from the MMA [28] states that the government's main environmental objectives for the 2018–2021 period were to improve the well-being and quality of people through sustainable development. And that this development is grounded in economic growth, care for the environment, and social equity. To this end, citizens must have access to more information on environmental issues in Chile and the planet, and actions and plans should be based on scientific knowledge [28]. The government's plan focused on five areas: environmental institutions, air quality, biodiversity, the circular economy and waste management, and climate change.

The perceptions of Chile's population relating to environmental issues were revealed in the First National Survey on the Environment, carried out in 2014. The study shows that, of the 5000 people surveyed, 86% believed that climate change is the result of human activity and that its consequences will affect their daily lives [27]. Moreover, 33% of those interviewed, the highest proportion, believed that the main environmental problem is air pollution, 21% pointed to rubbish and dirt in the streets, and 11% selected noise pollution [27].

It should be noted that environmental issues in Chile are beginning to gain momentum and are gradually becoming a national concern, which is "allowing historical environmental problems to be identified and recognized" [33, 34]. As a result, numerous regulations have emerged that, according to the ESA, aim at environmental protection, preserving nature, and conserving the environmental heritage. These regulations imposed a requirement that stipulated compliance must be accredited by the project owner at the time of assessment.

In October 2020, the Chilean people voted for the drafting of a new Political Constitution of the Republic through a national plebiscite; an unprecedented occurrence in the country's history. The following year, in May 2021, 155 members were elected to the Constitutional Convention, the body that will propose a new text for the country's political constitution within a maximum period of 12 months. The selection included equal representation for men and women (78 men and 77 women) and 17 representatives from Chile's indigenous peoples. The Constitutional Convention is ongoing and the new constitution will be submitted for ratification by a plebiscite. The content of the constitution is guided by seven "thematic commissions," one of which is focused on the environment, the rights of nature, common natural resources, and the economic model. Thus, there is a good chance that the new constitution will enshrine environmental protection as a constitutional principle.

The progress and challenges faced in the Colombian context in relation to the protection of the environment, ecosystems, and habitability in balance with nature are presented below.
