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Chile Moves Toward Decontamination: Farewell to Wood Heating in Los Lagos

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• The government published a draft proposal to decontaminate the region, introducing measures to comply with air quality standards.

In an effort to improve air quality and protect public health, Chile's Ministry of the Environment took a significant step by publishing the draft Atmospheric Decontamination Plan for the central-northern macrozone of the Los Lagos Region. This ambitious plan, covering nine communes including Osorno, Frutillar, and Puerto Montt, primarily aims to reduce levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM10), air pollutants highly harmful to human health.

Particulate matter, classified as PM10 and PM2.5 based on size, is one of the main environmental concerns in the region, where residential wood heating contributes to 89% and 77% of these pollutant emissions, respectively. The Chilean government has set a ten-year period to implement the plan and ensure the region meets environmental quality standards.

Among the plan's most notable measures are the ban on the sale of wet firewood and the use of open-hearth fireplaces, as well as wood heaters that do not comply with current regulations. Additionally, it includes the provision of 40,000 subsidies for home thermal insulation, improved insulation standards, and an ambitious program to replace 45,000 heaters.

The plan also addresses pollution from agricultural, forestry, and household burning and proposes the renewal of at least 200 public transport buses as part of strategies to reduce emissions.

The initiative has been well-received by residents of the region, who have been exposed to high pollution levels, especially during winter months. The government expects that implementing these measures will significantly improve air quality, benefiting public health and the environment.

The Ministry of the Environment has opened a public consultation period to gather feedback and suggestions on the draft proposal, inviting citizens to actively participate in their region's decontamination process.