Although Chile is a low emitter of carbon emissions, it is the planet’s ninth most vulnerable country to climate change. Glacial melt; shifts in rainfall patterns; expanding deserts; greater frequency in El Niño will impact on water supply; food production, tourism industry, migration (not only Chilean IDP s, but also increased migration from Peru and Bolivia), thereby impacting on Chile’s socio-economic development and national security.

While the prospect of becoming one of the world’s biggest victims to climate change approaches, Chile must find viable solutions to an ongoing energy crisis. Reality dictates that current coal based energy production and future affordable energy production projects are seen to be contradictory to adopting low carbon emission policies. Alternatively, Chile’s native energy resources include renewable possibilities such as wind, solar, or maritime.

The UK, in contrast, is a big emitter and is committed to ambitious reduction targets (50% by 2050), but also to promote global action to what it considers an international problem. In short, all countries can and shall contribute. Among HM Government’s policy goals one of the key priorities is the promotion of a low carbon, high growth global economy. The British Embassy in Santiago is devoted to helping Chile develop a greater regional and international role on climate change and on seeking a more ambitious post-Kyoto agreement at the UN’s Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

At a local level, the Embassy, will aim at working with the private and public sectors to develop innovative and efficient ways to both adapt to the effects of climate change as well as to find opportunities in mitigating and lowering emissions.

Furthermore, the FCO decided last year to co-ordinate its work in Latin America through establishing a regional hub based in Brazil in order to take full advantage of the funds available and focus on the regional priorities.

• Read about the visit to Chile of David Vincent, Project Director of Carbon Trust.