Episode description

The renowned climate scientist and IPCC author Maisa Rojas has been making headlines after being appointed as Chile’s new Minister for the Environment. She has pledged to deliver a green, sustainable and resilient future – and a ‘just transition’ to renewables from an economy that has to date been reliant on mining, forestry and agriculture. The legacy of General Augusto Pinochet has cast a long shadow over Chile, so one of the first hurdles is a vote on a new constitution in July which would ease the passage of new climate legislation. The new government of leftist leader Gabriel Boric also faces a divided Congress, and will need to galvanise support for a radical new agenda. Chile has vast potential for solar energy and hydropower, providing the infrastructure is in place to transmit it to different parts of the country. Can the government play a leading role globally in shifting to great dependency on renewables – and closing down coal-fired power stations in the coming decade?

Presenters Kate Lamble and Mora Morrison are joined by: Maisa Rojas, Minister for Environment for the Chilean government and climatologist Claudia Heiss, head of political science at the Institute of Public Affairs at Universidad de Chile. Dr Álvaro López-Peña, consultant on energy transition, CEO ALP Sustainable Energy

Producer: Serena Tarling and Darin Graham Researchers: Natasha Fernandes and Frances Read Reporter: John Bartlett Series Producer: Alex Lewis Sound engineer: Tom Brignell Editor: Nicola Addyman