Valparaíso

Chile’s rich history encompasses indigenous communities, 300 years of Spanish colonisation, and 30 years of military dictatorship. Since 1990, democracy has brought stability and economic growth while also continuing inequality, resulting in widespread demonstrations and repressions in 2019. Valparaíso is rough, rustic, working-class, and nostalgically embedded within its port. Port city, touristic city, and university city — its three identities also lead to tensions: pressure for port expansion reduces resident access to the waterfront and available urban land; the city’s touristification has displaced many residents from the flatlands to the impoverished hills, where informal settlements are vulnerable to floods and fires; and it has been challenging to create employment opportunities beyond academia to retain university graduates. 

Valparaiso is the Chilean region that is most vulnerable to climate change, yet climate action is most visible at the national level. Initiatives include the Framework Law on Climate Change and Construye 2025, which put the roadmap for decarbonisation of the built environment on the agenda. At the regional level, the Clean Production Agreement for the Circular Economy in Construction focuses on circular business models for managing construction and demolition waste, but its implementation has been limited.

In fact, built environment climate action in Valparaiso has been so limited to date that it is difficult to assess its social impact. Underlying urban development trends suggest reasons for concern, with market-led port development causing gentrification and exacerbating the proliferation of informal settlements in mountains and ravines. With 95% of land and buildings privately owned, the local government has limited agency to steer inclusive efforts, and a unionisation rate of 15.1% makes construction workers vulnerable, with their industry ranking third overall in injury rates. Participation appears to be the main area where there are signs of change, with the local government engaging in a binding public consultation to update its Communal Regulatory Plan, hopefully a sign of greater inclusion in future climate action.  

For more information, read the Valparaíso City Summary Report

Valparaíso
320,000
Prague
1,300,000
Melbourne
150,000
Jakarta
10,500,000
Lagos
12,800,000
Lisbon
550,000
Copenhagen
640,000
Athens
660,000
Valparaíso
1,900,000
Prague
2,200,000
Melbourne
4,600,000
Jakarta
31,700,000
Lagos
21,000,000
Lisbon
2,800,000
Copenhagen
2,000,000
Athens
3,700,000
Valparaíso
19,600,000
Prague
10,700,000
Melbourne
26,000,000
Jakarta
275,500,000
Lagos
218,500,000
Lisbon
10,400,000
Copenhagen
5,900,000
Athens
10,400,000
Valparaíso
0.86
Prague
0.895
Melbourne
0.946
Jakarta
0.713
Lagos
0.548
Lisbon
0.874
Copenhagen
0.952
Athens
0.893
Valparaíso
43
Prague
26.2
Melbourne
34.3
Jakarta
38.3
Lagos
35.1
Lisbon
34.6
Copenhagen
28.3
Athens
32.9
Valparaíso
8.5%
Jakarta
63%
Lagos
66%
Prague
10,000
Melbourne
1,725
Lisbon
3,700
Copenhagen
1,500
Athens
15,000
Valparaíso
13.9%
Prague
10.6%
Melbourne
7.1%
Lisbon
5.4%
Copenhagen
22.3%
Athens
27.3%
Valparaíso
116
Prague
155
Melbourne
113
Jakarta
80
Lisbon
144
Copenhagen
109
Athens
110
Valparaíso
132
Prague
170
Melbourne
142
Jakarta
105
Lisbon
155
Copenhagen
124
Athens
131
Prague
5%
Melbourne
2.8%
Lisbon
2%
Copenhagen
20%
Athens
1.6%
Valparaíso
60%
Prague
76%
Melbourne
64%
Jakarta
48%
Lagos
25%
Lisbon
78%
Copenhagen
60%
Athens
70%
Valparaíso
3
Prague
10
Melbourne
14
Jakarta
2
Lagos
1
Lisbon
5
Copenhagen
11
Athens
11
Valparaíso
17%
Prague
17%
Melbourne
12%
Jakarta
12%
Lagos
10%
Lisbon
19%
Copenhagen
67%
Athens
25%
Valparaíso
0.89
Prague
0.79
Melbourne
0.84
Jakarta
0.8
Lagos
0.83
Lisbon
0.82
Copenhagen
0.98
Athens
0.82
Valparaíso
45.6
Prague
46.8
Melbourne
43.1
Jakarta
49.6
Lagos
34.1
Lisbon
46.3
Copenhagen
45.3
Athens
48.8

Opportunities for the green transition

The local government has opened a binding public consultation to update its Communal Regulatory Plan. This plan aims for “territorial planning with social and gender justice (including the voice of indigenous groups), protection and reduction of the degradation of environmental heritage, and local economic development, integrating its three urban areas: Valparaíso, Placilla, and Laguna Verde”.

City Future Vision: Valparaíso

Green, integrated, and innovative

There is comprehensive resource distribution among the neighbourhoods in the city's hills, improved transportation infrastructure, and the development of subcentres and cultural hubs. Governments and businesses meaningfully engage with all citizens when developing cross-sector, strategic plans. Social and affordable housing is provided, and local manufacturing is prioritised. The port is transformed into an inclusive-productive hub that delivers economic and social benefits for local residents.

See the full insights report from the Valparaíso visioning workshop held on 12 December 2023

Read the full city summary

Valparaíso City Summary Report