Exceeding 1.5 °C of warming poses risks of crossing critical tipping points, such as the collapse of ice sheets, permafrost thaw, and disruption of essential ocean currents. This could exacerbate prolonged droughts, torrential rainfall, and heatwaves, severely impacting food security and water availability, leading to catastrophic losses of both terrestrial and marine species.

The Latin American Observatory of Environmental Conflicts (OLCA) reminds us that there has been sustained territorial resistance in Penco-Lirquén for over a decade against the mining initiative by Aclara Resources, driven by communities and organizations seeking to strengthen alternatives related to local commerce, environmental defense, and the productive vocation of the territory.

Scientific evidence underscores that desalination has impacts that cannot be overlooked. The intake of seawater can influence microscopic organisms, eggs, and larvae that make up the foundation of marine food chains. Additionally, the discharge of brine—the hyper-saline waste produced from the process—can disrupt the physical and chemical conditions of sensitive coastal ecosystems, particularly when projects are located in bays with limited water circulation or high biodiversity zones.

One of the major concerns is the population's exposure to fine particulate matter PM 2.5, one of the most harmful pollutants due to its ability to penetrate deeply into the respiratory system and enter the bloodstream. Scientific evidence has linked prolonged exposure to this contaminant with respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, lung cancer, and premature deaths, particularly affecting children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic conditions.

According to regional media, a massive march covered Penco and Lirquén this Saturday against Aclara Resources' rare earth project, ahead of Monday's vote. Residents reject the initiative and demand a pollution-free environment.

Amid the controversy surrounding José Kast's remarks about wetlands, the case of the Llantén wetland once again highlights the impacts of real estate development on urban ecosystems.

For three years, researchers from the University of Talca and the Universities of Bío-Bío and Católica del Maule, along with international scholars, will explore the current situation in Antarctica through an integrated approach that encompasses biology, ecology, genetics, social sciences, econometrics, and advanced modeling.

The Biobío Environmental Evaluation Commission (COEVA) is set to vote on Monday, June 8, regarding the controversial rare earth extraction project by Aclara Resources, with a $130 million investment. Although the Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA) has recommended approval of the initiative, organized communities in Penco-Lirquén strongly oppose the megaproject and are calling for a family march on Saturday, June 6, ahead of the vote.

The path of coal from Colombia to Chile reveals two faces of the same injustice: the Yukpa indigenous people, lacking consent and prior consultation, see their ancestral territory devastated, while Huasco in Chile breathes pollution and suffers from diseases without the closure of coal power plants. Both communities bear the costs of industrial energy.

On June 8, COEVA of Biobío will vote on Aclara Resources' rare earths project in Penco-Lirquén, with representatives from Kast's government. The SEA has recommended approval for the US$130 million initiative, but local communities oppose it, recalling the GNL Penco case that was never built despite favorable evaluations.