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Original article: Viviendas vs. humedales: expertos cuestionan el falso dilema instalado por Poduje

“Iván Poduje loves to argue with everyone and always has reasons,” stated urban and environmental consultant Patricio Herman, commenting on the Housing Minister’s attempt to blame the Urban Wetlands Law for delays in housing projects. The president of the Foundation to Defend the City criticized—along with other experts and political figures—the false dilemma posed by the state secretary, pointing out that the delays are due to other causes and that demonizing the regulation only hinders the necessary dialogue to tackle the housing crisis.

The controversy erupted during an event in Valdivia, where Poduje questioned the implementation timeline of the Guacamayo 3 project, intended for over 570 families. “Is eight years acceptable for this madness caused by this senator?” he asked, clearly referring to socialist senator Alfonso de Urresti, the proponent of the Urban Wetlands Law.

According to José Kast’s state secretary, “that law was poorly created,” prompting a swift response from the parliamentarian.

“The minister of housing’s words are regrettable, who, as an architect, should understand how complex it is to carry out a housing project,” De Urresti replied, accusing Poduje of oversimplifying a situation that requires comprehensive solutions.

“To try to simplify this situation and blame a law seems irresponsible to me. A housing minister should be focused on finding solutions, not inciting division,” he emphasized.

Later, President Kast supported the housing minister’s statements during an event in Rancagua, noting that “the dream of homeownership has slipped away from many families in Chile. We need to reclaim it, which is why the minister has proposed ideas that may seem disruptive at times.”

Experts Disprove Poduje’s Claims

However, experts in the field, such as Marcelo Mena, former Minister of Environment during Michelle Bachelet’s second presidency, debunked the government’s argument.

In an interview with Radio and Diario Universidad de Chile, the biochemical engineer from PUCV, with an MS and PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Iowa and postdoctoral work at MIT, was clear: “It is clear that the conversation is not based on real data.”

Mena, who was named one of the 100 climate leaders in the world by Time magazine in 2024, recalled that the Urban Wetlands Law was passed almost unanimously and enacted in 2020, and that the wetlands in question have been protected since 2021, making it inconsistent to attribute the eight-year delay directly to this law.

Mena challenged Poduje to clarify the actual reasons for the delays, as they are “not related to the existence of the law.”

Additionally, the former state secretary warned about the serious risks of building on wetlands. “Constructing housing or infrastructure on these urban wetlands has led to increased flooding, and this is well-documented,” he explained, adding that interfering with them “not only poses a risk to the population but also undermines the city’s ability to drain water and rainfall.”

Along similar lines, the president of the Foundation to Defend the City, Patricio Herman, questioned Poduje’s interest in framing a false dilemma and blaming the regulation for the documented delays in urban development, suggesting there might be a communication strategy behind his statements.

“His purpose is to make sure everyone is talking about him,” he stated to Diario U de Chile.

“I understand that he himself praised Senator (de Urresti) for the validity of the Wetlands Law. Therefore, there is a contradiction here,” Herman pointed out, emphasizing that wetlands “provide numerous benefits to the public and the country,” and their elimination could lead to serious consequences.

Thus, while Kast’s government insists on creating a public perception of a supposed conflict between housing and the environment, experts urge against falling into false dichotomies and to seriously address both the urgent housing needs and the protection of key ecosystems essential for the water and climate security of cities.

La entrada Housing vs. Wetlands: Experts Challenge False Dichotomy Created by Minister Poduje se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.