The meeting that will determine the world’s environmental course – UACh News

The Southern Andes Natural Laboratory in Chile, affiliated with the Faculty of Science of the Austral University of Chile, will participate in the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP) in Colombia on October 29. This is the most important global event on the environment, where world leaders, scientists, activists and public policy makers come together to define concrete actions to protect biodiversity and combat climate change. This summit sets the tone for environmental decisions that will affect the entire planet over the coming decades.

Participation in the COP will be a crucial opportunity for the Southern Andes Natural Laboratory to highlight the importance of mountain regions in biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change. These areas, which face increasing threats, are vital not only for biodiversity, but also for water and climate security.

The importance of the COP lies in the fact that the decisions taken during this summit have a direct impact on international environmental and climate policies. The Andes del Sur Natural Laboratory, part of a network funded by ANID, seeks with its participation not only to highlight the importance of preserving mountain areas, but also to position Chile as a reference in science applied to sustainability. This network includes the Ancestral Practices Desert Rescue Nature Laboratory, the Atacama Desert Nature Laboratory, the Mid-Arctic Nature Laboratory, the Subantarctic Nature Laboratory, the Salaris Nature Laboratory, and the Antarctic Nature Laboratory.

“The thought of joint participation in an important activity such as the COP, where the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Science recognize us as valid actors to represent the country, is progress towards the institutionalization of this network. “We want to continue progressing in this line,” said Carla Marchant, director of the Andes del Sur Natural Laboratory.

The COP not only provides international visibility, but also opens doors to the creation of new strategic alliances that will strengthen the Laboratory’s work in research and conservation of mountain ecosystems. “This global meeting makes the Southern Andes region a brand region for Chile, linking science to global and local challenges,” said Patricio Contreras, Executive Coordinator of the Southern Andes Natural Laboratory.

Andes del Sur Natural Laboratory’s participation in the COP goes beyond representing Chile in a global event: it is a commitment to the communities and territories that depend on mountain ecosystems. Each research and project seeks to ensure that scientific solutions positively impact those who live in these places.