Abstract
2019 has been a crucial year for Chile. The protests that erupted in October once again pointed to the high level of socio-economic inequality in this country. The protests eventually led to the announcement and organization of a referendum to finally reform the 1980 Chilean Constitution, which was adopted under Pinochet’s dictatorship and only poorly reformed afterward. Although the referendum (planned for 26 April 2020) may be postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, its realization may set in motion the momentum needed to rethink the system of environmental protection.