ECLAC and Chile’s Ministry of Social Development and Family Strengthen Capacities to Incorporate the Social Cost of Carbon into the Evaluation of Waste Sector Projects

The activity, carried out within the framework of the European Union’s Euroclima Programme, strengthened the technical capacities of public officials to integrate climate change considerations into public investment appraisal and advance more sustainable and resilient decision-making.

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The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), together with Chile’s Ministry of Social Development and Family and with the support of the European Union’s Euroclima Programme, held a training workshop on 25 May on the implementation of the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) in the appraisal of waste sector projects. The event took place in Santiago, Chile, and brought together representatives from the National Investment System, sectoral ministries, and national public institutions.

The activity was organized within the framework of the Euroclima Programme and aimed to present the “Guide for the Implementation of the Social Cost of Carbon in the Waste Sector”, while also strengthening the technical capacities of public officials to incorporate climate considerations into public investment appraisal.

The opening session featured remarks by Raimundo Gana, Head of the Social Investment Evaluation Division at Chile’s Ministry of Social Development and Family, and Carlos de Miguel, Director of ECLAC’s Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Division.

In his opening remarks, Raimundo Gana emphasized the importance of incorporating climate-related criteria into public investment decisions, noting that “social project appraisal must respond to the challenges the country faces today.” He highlighted the role of the Social Cost of Carbon as a tool for guiding investments toward more sustainable and resilient alternatives.

For his part, Carlos de Miguel underscored that climate change already represents a structural challenge for development in Latin America and the Caribbean and stated that advancing instruments such as the Social Cost of Carbon makes it possible to “align public investment with countries’ climate commitments and sustainable development needs.”

The training included technical presentations and practical exercises on available tools for incorporating the Social Cost of Carbon into the appraisal of waste sector projects. These sessions were led by Francisca Cid, climate change and public investment specialist and ECLAC consultant. The workshop concluded with remarks by Jimy Ferrer, Economic Affairs Officer at ECLAC.

In this context, Jimy Ferrer highlighted that “integrating climate change into national public investment systems is no longer a discussion for the future, but a concrete necessity to better guide public resources and reduce vulnerabilities.” He emphasized the role of the Social Cost of Carbon as a tool for strengthening the planning of resilient and sustainable investments.

The Social Cost of Carbon is an economic instrument that enables the incorporation of the costs associated with greenhouse gas emissions into public investment appraisal. By doing so, it promotes lower-carbon alternatives and helps direct financing toward investments that are consistent with countries’ climate commitments.

This activity forms part of the work carried out by the Euroclima Programme and ECLAC to strengthen the integration of climate considerations into public investment planning and appraisal across Latin America and the Caribbean. Through technical assistance, capacity-building activities, and the development of practical tools, the initiative seeks to support countries in designing policies and investments aligned with their sustainable development objectives and climate commitments.