This incredible photo shows the city of Santiago de Chile, nestled against its mountain range, the Andes. Natural resources are a fundamental pillar of Chile’s economy. Except that this growth has widened social and economic inequalities and put greater pressure on the environment.

The city of “Chago” is dominated by Cerro el Plomo and Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Andes marking the border with Argentina. This colossus of the Americas rises to 6,962 meters in altitude, making it the highest point on the planet outside of the Himalayas.

At the foot of these stone giants lies the city of Santiago, Chile, a capital with 7 million inhabitants – one-third of the country. A financial, commercial, and industrial center, it generates 45% of the country’s GDP and boasts a mild, Mediterranean climate.

But it’s not all “dolce vita” in Chile, despite its wealth per capita.
The country is going through a tough period, with repeated social and political upheavals.

On one hand, natural resources are a fundamental pillar of its economy, being the world’s largest producer of copper and lithium. It’s also one of the main exporters of forestry and fishing products.
And it’s an agricultural powerhouse.
Chile is one of the world’s largest producers of cherries, avocados, cranberries, apples, kiwis, plums, grapes, and wines.

But the country especially benefited from the commodities price boom during the 2000s and has experienced sustained growth over the last 15 years.

However, this growth has widened social and economic inequalities and imposed greater pressure on the environment. The El Niño phenomenon threatens agricultural stability, and the anthropic pressure is colossal on this narrow fertile strip.
The air quality in Santiago is poor, desertification, habitat degradation, and chemical pollution of water and soil are accelerating.

Chileans have generated an average of 384 kg of waste per year, making it the Latin American country that produces the most waste, almost 17 million tons in 2021, of which only 14% are recycled.
(For comparison, France produces 342 million tons, about 10 times more per capita, but recycles 66% of it.)

Mais there’s also reason for optimism. New political instruments have been adopted, such as the “green tax,” a tax on carbon emissions. In 2015, Chile committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.

Le contexte politique remains volatile, with its President Gabriel Boric, aged 36. The memory of the dictatorship is still fresh.
A national plan was launched this week aiming to find over 1,000 people who disappeared during the Pinochet dictatorship.

Chile is reshaping itself. The country is evolving.
And its destiny will matter for all of America.