The impact of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean will be considerable, and so the region must contribute to negotiations in the United Nations summit to take place in Copenhagen, stated ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena.

Bárcena participated in the launching of the study "The Economics of Climate Change in Chile" in the Cultural Center of the Citizen Plaza located next to the presidential palace in Santiago.

Also taking part in the presentation were Chile's Environment Minister Ana Lya Uriarte, Energy Minister Marcelo Tokman, the representative of the Business Leaders for Climate Change Group, Bernardo Larraín, and the coordinator of the study, Sebastián Vicuña.

"We know that a rise in temperature of over two centigrade can alter the natural balance and human life. That is why it is urgent to take action now," said Bárcena.

World leaders will gather in the Danish capital this December for the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 15). There, they hope to reach a global agreement on reducing emissions to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

"Time is short and any delay in reaching a global agreement is perilous. Weakening the Copenhagen negotiations, not setting a clear route of action and not ensuring binding results in Mexico next year are enormous risks we should not take. As the case of Chile shows, the impact will be considerable," added Bárcena.

The region contributes only 8% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but it has the opportunity to help resolve the problem at relatively low costs, she said.

Energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy, low-carbon production methods and the rationalization of transportation are some of the measures that could be adopted today, with significant global and local benefits, she noted.

The study The Economics of Climate Change was requested by the Government of Chile and prepared by a group of experts from the Catholic, Chile and Valparaíso universities under the technical coordination of ECLAC.

The document examines the main effects that climate change will have on the Chilean economy, particularly in agriculture, mining, energy, fishing and forestry.

According to this study, the projections for Chile suggest a sustained rise in greenhouse gas emissions: for 2030, the level of emissions will be 2.5 times higher than current ones.