National Environmental Law Expert (Chile)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

With the aim of supporting the implementation of Chile's recently adopted climate change law, the consultant will deliver: (1) Three newly drafted national environmental regulations. (2) The review of two existing draft environmental regulations, with suggested amendments as necessary. (3) Twenty final draft climate change plans.

Work Location

Santiago de Chile, Chile

Expected duration

9 months from 01/04/2024 to 31/12/2024

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence. UNEP Law Division is the lead Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law, governance and related policy issues. The Law Division also leads UNEP’s role as secretariat to the Fifth Montevideo Programme on the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Programme V). Montevideo Programme V is ten-year intergovernmental programme adopted by the UN Environment Assembly at its fourth meeting in March 2019. Montevideo Programme V will promote environmental rule of law, strengthen the related capacities in countries, and contribute to the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Programme commenced in January 2020 and is a flagship initiative of the Law Division. This consultancy will support the implementation of the project “Elaboration and modification of national regulations for the implementation of Law No. 21,455, Climate Change Framework”, funded by the NDC Partnership Action Fund (PAF). In 2022, Chile published the Framework Law on Climate Change, which aims to address the various challenges that the country faces on climate change, in order to move towards a low -carbon economy, and a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Under this project, UNEP will provide technical legal assistance to Chile in drafting three national regulations, amending two national regulations and developing twenty climate change plans, with the aim of supporting the implementation of the country's recently adopted Law on Climate change. Three national experts on legislative drafting on climate change and environmental issues will be engaged in this project to provide technical knowledge and expertise on national legal and institutional frameworks, and support in the legal procedures associated with the elaboration and modification of regulations and plans in the framework of the implementation of the law in Chile. The project falls under the umbrella Law Division project “Progressive Development and Implementation of Environmental Law: Delivering Montevideo Programme V”. The three environmental law experts shall work under the supervision of the Head, Montevideo Coordination and Delivery Unit (MCDU) of the Law Division or her designated representative(s), including the UNEP Subregional Office for the Southern Cone located in Montevideo, Uruguay, and UNEP Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. Responsibilities: The consultant will undertake the following activities to support the elaboration and modification of national regulations for the implementation of Chilean Law No. 21,455, Climate Change Framework: 1. Carry out a baseline mapping and analysis of the policy, legislative and institutional framework governing climate change, the management and regulation of GHG emissions, and water use, identifying existing strengths, gaps, and challenges in Chile. 2. Based on this analysis and taking into consideration identified priorities and good practice: a. Conduct a legal review of one existing draft regulation on GHG emission standards and two existing draft amended regulations prepared by the Government of Chile, and develop recommendations for improvement. b. Support the development of two draft regulations related to GHG certification system and water use. c. Support the development of twenty draft climate change plans (sectoral and regional plans). The above activities should be undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Chile, as well as other sectoral ministries and the Regional Climate Change Committees as appropriate. 3. Organize and undertake stakeholder consultations on the draft amendments, regulations and climate change plans, and integrate feedback received from these consultations into revised versions of the amendments, regulations and plans, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Chile, other sectoral ministries and committees. 4. Prepare concept notes and reports of the consultation workshops to be developed throughout the country. 5. Prepare final drafts of all new regulations, amended regulations, and climate change plans. 6. Organize and conduct validation workshops to review and validate final drafts of regulations and plans, preparing concept notes and final reports for the workshops. 7. Integrate, where appropriate, feedback from the validation workshops and finalize the draft regulations, amendments and climate change plans. 8. Design a proposal for strengthening legal capacities of government officials and municipalities for the timely implementation of the climate change plans. 9. Communicate periodically with UNEP representatives, such as MCDU, UNEP Subregional Office for the South Cone, and UNEP Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, including through organizing and conducting team meetings to update on progress and milestones. 10. In undertaking the above tasks, work closely alongside UNEP national and international consultants also supporting the above activities.

Qualifications/special skills

A Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Law and/or International Environmental Law, preferably with a focus on climate change and/or natural resource management is required. An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) is an asset. A minimum of two years of progressive experience in environmental law, climate change and sustainable development related matters is required. Background in legal drafting and development of legal and institutional frameworks for environmental management is an asset. Experience in working on environmental issues in Latin America, particularly in Chile, is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English and Spanish is required.

Additional Information

Strong analytical skills are desirable. Demonstrated capacity to work in a consultative manner and good networking skills is desirable

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.