In ‘Signs of the Future’, the director of the UDT highlighted that the region can address the global challenges of carbon neutrality based on the circular economy

“The climate change we are experiencing today – and on this there is consensus among experts worldwide – is not due to chance, but simply because we emit too many greenhouse gases, mainly CO2,” explained Dr. Alex Berg Gebert, executive director of the Technological Development Unit (UDT) of the University of Concepción, who during this week joined as a member of the Carbon Neutrality and Resilience Committee, composed of actors from the private sector, academia and civil society.

In the interview given to the program ‘Señales del Futuro’, Berg commented on the importance of this initiative, convened by the Ministries of Energy, Science, Economy and Environment. “Chile emits just over one hundred million tons of CO2 per year. To imagine this is difficult, it is a gigantic amount, however, we also absorb CO2, mainly, through forests, on average about 50 million tons,” he detailed.

“How much does Chile contribute to global emissions? Very little, it is 0.26%, but even so, as a country, we committed ourselves in 2022 through a law on climate change, to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, gradually”. Hence the importance of bringing together the efforts of different actors, who pledged to present proposals for action in the coming months.

Opportunity to lead the change

In the conversation, the UdeC chemical engineer addressed the need to drive change, both individually and collectively. His call is to see the transformation of the use of fossil fuels for renewable sources as an opportunity. “We have a gigantic amount of raw material,” he emphasized, “which allows us to get ahead and position ourselves as leaders and not to compete with the economy of the last century, but to compete with the economy of the future.”

The director of the UDT emphasized that this is a joint work, which on the one hand seeks to contribute to reduce the trend of climate change, but also to renew our national and regional economy. “We have to reinvent ourselves and I believe that here is an excellent opportunity to do so,” he said.

The complete interview will be broadcasted this Thursday 28th at 6:00 pm on radioudec.cl and 95.1 FM in Concepción. In addition, this and all the chapters of “Signs of the Future” can be played on the Spotify platform, in the space of the Vice Rector’s Office for Research and Development.

Source: VRID UdeC Press Release