Chile’s dependence upon hydroelectricity and natural gas as energy sources has tended to keep carbon dioxide emissions low, with the carbon dioxide intensity of the country’s economy near the regional average. The primary environmental threats to Chile are air pollution from vehicle and industrial emissions, water pollution from untreated industrial sewage, deforestation and soil erosion. Air pollution in Santiago is the most obvious and severe environmental problem in Chile. Mitigating threats to the environment, however, is the increasing use of alternative fuels in Chile's industrial and energy sectors.

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