María Cecilia Hernández, rector of Universidad Católica del Norte, framed the north as a potential solution hub capable of generating knowledge and partnerships that extend beyond Chile’s borders. The university emphasized its commitment to training human capital equipped to navigate a rapidly changing environment where consensus-building is essential for productive transformation. Luis Llano, CEO of ISA Energía, referenced a joint study with Universidad Católica de Chile that projects climate trends through 2100, including heat wave intensification and precipitation declines of 12 to 30 percent. Llano argued that aggregating such data in forums like Climate Week enables coordinated public policy and helps infrastructure operators anticipate, withstand and recover from climate shocks.
Andrés Contreras, general manager of ISA Vías, highlighted opportunities in energy transition, water resources and sustainable development while stressing the need for safe, modern and resilient infrastructure in the wake of the recent constitutional state of emergency declared for Antofagasta’s flood response. Pablo Badenier, former environment minister and País Circular co-founder, noted Chile’s ability to maintain cross-party continuity on climate agreements despite political shifts.
The program included five panel discussions and the launch of a study by the Chilean Desalination and Reuse Association, supported by the World Bank Group, evaluating benefits of integrating water supply infrastructure across northern Chile. Sixteen panelists addressed three priority areas: energy transition, sustainable infrastructure and water security. The convergence of extreme weather events and strategic mineral and renewable energy resources positions northern Chile as a test bed for climate adaptation models that balance economic competitiveness with environmental resilience.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
