Chile cancels climate and Apec summits amid mass protests

Chile has pulled out of hosting two major international summits, including a UN climate change conference, as anti-government protests continue.

President Sebastián Piñera said the decision had caused him “pain” but his government needed “to prioritise re-establishing public order”.

This is the first time a country has pulled out of hosting the conference at such short notice.

The demonstrations were originally triggered by a now-suspended rise in the price of metro fares in Santiago.

However protesters are now marching to express their discontent over a wide variety of problems ranging from inequality to the high cost of healthcare.

The COP25 climate summit was scheduled for 2 to 13 December, while the Apec trade forum was next month.

The UN said it was now looking at alternative venues.

World leaders were to gather at this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP) to discuss the implementation of the Paris Accord – a landmark international climate agreement, first signed at COP21 in December 2015.

Via Reuters