International Environmental Law Expert at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Result of Service

With the aim of supporting the implementation of Chile's recently adopted climate change law, the consultant will deliver:  

• A baseline analysis of all relevant international and regional obligations of the Government of Chile under international law or treaty related to climate change, including the management and regulation of GHG emissions, and water resources.  
• The review of five draft environmental regulations, with suggested amendments that integrate international best practice as appropriate.  
•  The review of twenty final draft climate change plans, with suggested amendments that integrate international best practice as appropriate.

Work Location

Expected duration

• 3 months  From 01/05/2024 to 31/07/2024

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) emission. 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 climate change 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:  
• Undertake a baseline mapping analysis of all relevant international and regional obligations of the Government of Chile under international law or treaty related to climate change, including the management and regulation of GHG emissions, and water resources.  
• Provide input and feedback on the methodology for the baseline mapping analysis of the policy, legislative and institutional framework governing climate change, the management and regulation of GHG emissions, and water use in Chile, based international good practice and relevant international law.  

Review the following regulations and plans and provide feedback with an aim to strengthening the draft, based on relevant international good practice:  

• draft regulation on GHG emission standards;  
• draft regulations related to a GHG certification system; 
• draft regulations on water use;   
• regulation on the Strategic Environmental Assessment Process; 
• Regulation establishing the procedure for issuing environmental quality and emission standards, and Prevention and/or Environmental Decontamination Plans; and  twenty draft climate change plans (sectoral and regional plans).  
• Review outcomes of all stakeholder consultations on the draft regulations and provide feedback as appropriate, to improve the draft regulations and plans, in collaboration with the project team.
• Provide a review of a proposal to strengthen legal capacities of government officials and municipalities for the timely implementation of the climate change plans and integrate feedback based on international good practice.  
• Participate in periodic meetings with the project team on project activities and progress and contribute as required.  
• 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.  
• In undertaking the above tasks, work closely alongside UNEP national 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.    
• Excellent writing and communication skills both in English and Spanish would be an asset. 
• Strong analytical skills 
• Demonstrated capacity to work in a consultative manner and good networking skills. 
• A minimum of two years of progressive experience in environmental law, international environmental law, climate change and sustainable development related matters is required. Background in 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 desirable.

Languages

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