As his term ends, the Chilean president will increase pressure on Israel to decarbonize and accelerate its pace

Gabriel Boric, the Chilean President, said on Sunday he would accelerate efforts to promote renewable energy and increase pressure against Israel for its Gaza war among other initiatives in his last nine months as president.

Boric, in a three-hour address to Congress, delivered at the coast city of Valparaiso, marked his final annual address. He also spoke about crime, infrastructure and the economy.

Boric, in comments that brought out the loudest cheers and jeers on opposite sides of Congress he said he would introduce a bill to ban imports of what he termed "illegally-occupied territories" as well as support Spain's efforts for an arm embargo against Israel.

Boric, a vocal critic of Israel had recalled military personnel and summoned Chile's ambassador to the country for questioning.

Chile's Government will also introduce a "accelerated decarbonization bill" that aims at boosting investment in renewable sources of energy, helping to end coal-powered thermalelectric plants, and moving the country's goal to decarbonize its electric grid by 2035.

Boric said that the bill to accelerate the permitting process for projects is just weeks away from approval. This has been a long-awaited demand by investors, miners and renewable energy companies. Boric stated that the goal of the bill is to reduce permitting times from 30% to 70%.

Boric also praised his plan to expand the lithium mining industry, which is led by state copper giant Codelco.

Boric has been criticized by critics for not implementing the major reforms that he promised when he ran for office, and for not completing a constitutional rewrite from the dictatorship era which was twice rejected by voters.

Boric acknowledged the complaints while defending his past.

"Have We Achieved Everything, With The Depth We Wanted? "No, but we've made progress, given the circumstances under which we were forced to govern," said he. (Reporting and Editing by Bill Berkrot).

(source: Reuters)