The Council of Ministers for Sustainability and Climate Change, led by the Ministry of Environment, has approved an update to Chile’s primary air quality standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The new regulation introduces stricter concentration limits aimed at protecting public health from both acute and chronic effects linked to exposure to this pollutant.
Minister of Environment Maisa Rojas commented, “this update is a fundamental tool so that people can breathe cleaner air. We are updating the standards in line with scientific evidence and the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), but we do so gradually and in coordination, considering territorial realities and ensuring that this process is fair for families.”
The revised standard sets an annual PM2.5 limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) and a daily limit of 38 μg/m³. These levels raise the bar compared to the standard established in 2011 and align with WHO guidance. Thresholds defining alert, pre-emergency, and emergency episodes will also be lowered to enhance protection during high pollution events.
Implementation will be phased over five years from publication. This period is intended to support the rollout of the Solid Biofuels Law by the Ministry of Energy as well as measures under existing decontamination plans, giving households and businesses time to adapt.
Álvaro García, Minister of Economy and Energy, stated: “As Ministry of Economy, we are committed to promoting robust environmental standards with gradual implementation to facilitate compliance with deadlines and ensure coherence with the performance of strategic productive sectors. The decisions addressed today move toward more precise, technically sound, and consistent regulation. Our focus is to ensure that necessary environmental regulations provide certainty for investment, allowing the country to progress toward sustainable development with clear and operational rules.”
During its session, the Council also approved updates on other environmental regulations. It endorsed a new noise emission standard for urban and rural buses that replaces one in place since 2002. The updated rule sets stricter noise limits reflecting advances in vehicle technology and aims to reduce acoustic pollution—especially in densely populated areas—and protect public health.
Additional control mechanisms have been introduced to improve enforcement among operating buses along with changes designed to make compliance easier.
The Council further discussed updating energy efficiency standards for medium-sized vehicles under requirements set by Chile’s Energy Efficiency Law overseen by the Ministry of Energy. Adjustments include technical updates such as transitioning measurement cycles for fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining consistency within regulatory frameworks. Technical participation was included throughout this process.
Finally, a regulation was approved establishing criteria for declaring degraded areas and developing ecological restoration plans under legislation creating Chile’s Biodiversity Service and Protected Areas system. This tool will help identify significantly degraded ecosystems across Chile so concrete recovery actions can be defined.
