Thousands Protest in Chile Against President Kast's Environmental Rollbacks

Thousands of people marched in Santiago and 15 other cities across Chile on World Water Day to protest President Jose Antonio Kast's sweeping rollback of environmental protections. Demonstrators clashed with police during the march organized under the slogan "Don't Kast-igate Nature."

What Triggered the Protests

The arch-conservative president ordered the halt of 43 environmental protection regulations on his first day in office. The rolled-back measures had been signed by left-wing former President Gabriel Boric and included:

• Endangered species protections for Darwin's frog and the Humboldt penguin
• New national park designations across the country
• Decontamination plans for Lake Villarrica and other polluted waterways
• Emission regulations for thermoelectric power plants

Demonstrators' Demands

Environmental organizations said the rollbacks threaten Chile's biodiversity and public health. Cristobal Rodriguez, national spokesperson for the Movement for the Defense and Access to Water, Land and the Environment, noted that 1.4 million Chileans still lack access to clean drinking water. "The new president represents a setback that reflects his Pinochet-era roots and is commodifying nature to levels never seen before," Rodriguez said.

Scope of the Protests

The demonstrations drew thousands of participants across the country, making it one of the largest environmental protests in Chile since 2019. Organizers said the response exceeded expectations, with particularly large turnouts in Valparaiso, Concepcion, and Temuco in addition to Santiago.

International Response

International environmental organizations have sharply criticized Kast's decisions. The UN Environment Programme expressed concern over the scope of the rollbacks. Chile's move stands in contrast to the trend across most of Latin America, where environmental protections have been strengthening in recent years.