Ecological groups have expressed skepticism about the creation of a Ministry of Environment by the new Chilean government of Michelle Bachelet, and doubt it represents a change in environmental policy. Bachelet sent the project to Parliament on Apr. 6, calling for giving Cabinet rank to the head of the National Environmental Commission, CONAMA. But Marcel Claude, director of Oceana, one of the country's leading environmental groups, said in a Tierramérica interview that it would be “a purely cosmetic measure, which would not resolve any of the urgent environmental matters affecting the country.”

According to the activist, creating the new ministry would not prevent the big mining companies from continuing to enjoy tax breaks, nor would it stop the “overexploitation of the sea.” And it wouldn't improve public transportation or clean up Santiago's pollution, or change “the shameful behavior of the pulp mill plants,” he said.