Facing climate change NetZero-Nature positive

ConvergEN+: Energy and Nature Positive

The initiative, framed within the global Net Zero and Nature Positive Accelerator program funded by the GEF, seeks to strengthen Chilean institutions, public policies, and regulations to accelerate development pathways with net-zero emissions and nature-positive outcomes.

Context

The challenge we are solving

Chile’s decarbonization does not end with electricity generation. The greatest challenge remains thermal energy and the integration of nature into initiatives.

Chile has made significant progress in decarbonizing its electricity matrix. However, electricity represents only part of the country’s total energy consumption. The remaining 78% corresponds to thermal energy: heat and cold used in industries, mining, manufacturing, construction, climate control, and other productive processes that still depend largely on fossil fuels.

This opens a strategic opportunity for Chile: to integrate nature into decarbonization processes, strengthening the resilience of industries, enabling new sources of financing, and accelerating the transition toward a more competitive and sustainable economy.

The current context not only slows emissions reductions, but also exposes productive sectors to greater operational, regulatory, and financial risks amid the climate crisis, water stress, and biodiversity loss. That is why taking action now is essential.

Ten years after the Paris Agreement, global emissions remain far from the trajectory needed to achieve the agreed targets. In Chile, reducing emissions produced by the use of thermal energy is one of the most significant ways to contribute to this goal.

ConvergEN+ was created to drive this transition, bringing together technical, institutional, and financial capabilities around a new stage of decarbonization.

Up to 27%

Economic losses for Chile could amount to up to 27% of GDP under severe impact scenarios with higher levels of warming.

55%

More than half of Chilean exports depend directly on nature, supporting strategic sectors for the country’s economic development.

17%

of national GDP depends directly on nature. Biodiversity and ecosystems are a key economic asset for the country’s growth and competitiveness.

<br>of national GDP depends directly on nature. Biodiversity and ecosystems are a key economic asset for the country’s growth and competitiveness.

1 million

jobs in Chile are linked to activities that depend directly on nature.

+ than 50%

of global economic activity depends significantly on nature and its ecosystem services.

80%

of global climate funds are currently allocated to adaptation, nature, and water.

Greater exposure to water crises and extreme weather events.

Increase and volatility of operating costs associated with the use of fossil fuels.

Difficulties accessing international markets and financing.

Lagging behind new regulatory requirements and environmental standards.

Loss of competitiveness in strategic sectors.

Drive a more resilient economy, better prepared for future climate scenarios.

Integrating nature into productive processes and infrastructure is good business. It contributes to sustainability, reduces financial risks, and helps anticipate upcoming regulatory requirements.

Access new climate financing opportunities and green markets.

Develop competitive advantages and maintain comparative advantages, promoting sustainability for companies and territories.

Accelerate technological innovation for the energy transition.

Strategic framework:

Chile has already begun its transformation

Chile has developed a solid political and regulatory framework to move toward greenhouse gas emissions neutrality and biodiversity protection, including the Framework Law on Climate Change, the Long-Term Climate Strategy, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the National Biodiversity Strategy, and the creation of the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service (SBAP), as well as various sectoral plans and strategies related to energy, biodiversity, and climate finance.

The challenge now is to make visible what we have not yet seen: Energy and Nature Positive.

In other words, to accelerate the implementation of new technologies and business models, connect stakeholders, and transform those commitments into capabilities, investment, and concrete action.

ConvergEN+ seeks to contribute precisely to this transition.

About the initiative

What is ConvergEN+

ConvergEN+ is an initiative that seeks to drive development and encourage sustainable investment in Chile, creating a more resilient and competitive economy in the face of the progressive effects of climate change. To do so, we bring together public and private stakeholders, technical capabilities, financing, and implementation tools.

The initiative connects the Ministry of Energy’s leadership in demand-side decarbonization, the Ministry of the Environment’s efforts on climate change and nature-positive approaches, and the Ministry of Finance’s strategic vision for a more resilient and sustainable economy.

Its objective is to strengthen institutional capacities and enable the necessary conditions to accelerate development pathways that integrate decarbonization, nature, and economic competitiveness.

ConvergEN+ seeks to transform the way Chile approaches the climate transition: connecting energy, nature, financing, and innovation around a common purpose.

Lines of Action

How do we accelerate the transition?

Line of Action 1: Nature positive for competitiveness and resilience

Integrating nature as a strategic asset for development.

We promote tools, methodologies, and initiatives that enable the incorporation of nature into projects, investments, productive processes, and public policies.

We align instruments, regulations, and investments to drive development and encourage sustainable investment in Chile. We work together with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Finance to strengthen the coherence and structural alignment of climate change management instruments, integrate nature into business strategies, and develop tools to guide investment toward resilient and competitive solutions.

Includes:

Coherence and structural alignment of climate instruments.
Contributing nature-related criteria for assessments linked to financial strategies.
Guide on impacts and dependencies on nature.
Integrated voluntary certification system under the HuellaChile framework for Greenhouse Gases, Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, Water, and Nature.

Line of Action 2: Decarbonization of energy demand

We promote solutions to accelerate the decarbonization of thermal uses in industries, buildings, and productive sectors, incorporating territorial criteria and sustainability.

We drive the next stage of the energy transition: reducing emissions associated with the use of thermal energy.

We develop a roadmap for the decarbonization of energy demand in industries, commerce, and buildings, promoting cost-effective solutions that strengthen the productivity, competitiveness, and resilience of productive sectors.

Includes:

Public-private alliance.
Thermal demand roadmap.
Portfolio of investment projects.
Development of regulatory instruments.

Line of Action 3: Financing for the transition

Mobilizing investment toward Energy and Nature Positive solutions:

We develop strategies, instruments, and enabling conditions to connect investment opportunities with energy transition projects and the incorporation of nature. We implement pilot projects in different regions of Chile to demonstrate the technical, economic, social, and environmental viability of new decarbonization technologies, generating practical knowledge that enables their replication and scaling.

Implementation enablers:

Governance and coordination: We coordinate public, private, national and international, financial, academic, and technical stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of policies and initiatives.
Tools, reporting systems, and certification: We develop methodologies, measurement systems, and certification mechanisms to demonstrate progress and build trust.
Pilots and knowledge generation: We implement co-financed demonstration projects and develop evidence to validate scalable and replicable solutions.

Publications

Guidelines for the Open Call for ConvergEN+ Pilot Projects

The call seeks to select at least three pilot projects that demonstrate innovative, replicable, and scalable solutions to reduce emissions, improve energy performance, mobilize private investment, and promote the opening of new markets associated with the decarbonization of thermal demand.

DOWNLOAD BASES

Annexes for the Open Call for ConvergEN+ Pilot Projects

For a successful application, we are sharing the formats and annexes so you can take part in this open call in full. Remember that you can apply until October 31.

REVIEW THE ANNEXES HERE