In Argentina, a public hearing has been scheduled for a bill amending the Glaciers Law. The Glaciers Law is a key instrument for protecting ecosystems vital for water supply and climate regulation. After the project was approved in the Senate, environmental organizations called on deputies to organize an open, inclusive, and federal public participation process. They argue that limited deadlines or a narrow scope of participation undermine the goal of ensuring effective citizen information and expression on high-impact environmental issues. The Glaciers Law is a territorial environmental planning instrument. In this regard, article 10, subsection e) of the General Environmental Law (Law 25.675) recognizes territorial environmental planning as a key tool for environmental policy and management. Article 21 of the General Environmental Law states that public participation must be ensured in territorial environmental planning plans and programs, especially in the planning and evaluation stages. Article 7 of the Escazú Agreement—ratified by Argentina through Law 27.566 and with hierarchy superior to other laws—obligates the state to guarantee public participation in decision-making processes, reviews, or updates on environmental matters that may have a significant impact. The hearing will require the presence of at least four deputies from each convened commission, raising the standard of institutional legitimacy. So far, the schedule sets March 25 and 26 as the dates for open debate, aiming for 'broad participation' from stakeholders, including provinces, productive sectors, and indigenous communities directly linked to glaciers and their basins. The hearings will be held within the framework of the debate on the bill amending Law 26.639, which sets minimum standards for the protection of glaciers and the periglacial environment, and in accordance with the agreement reached by the Commissions on Natural Resources and Conservation of the Human Environment and on Constitutional Affairs. They will take place in Room 2 on the 2nd floor of the C Annex of the National Chamber of Deputies, located at Rivadavia 1841, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, on March 25, 2026, for registered participants who will speak in person, and on March 26, 2026, for those who will participate virtually, from 10:00 to 19:00. Registration to the Participants' Register can be made in a personal capacity or on behalf of a legal entity, by appearing in person at the office of the Natural Resources and Conservation of the Human Environment Commission, or electronically through the form that will be published on the website of the National Chamber of Deputies. The registration period will extend until Friday, March 20, until 16:00 in person and until 20:00 in a virtual format. Complete information on the call can be accessed on the website of the National Chamber of Deputies at www.hcdn.gob.ar. This initiative was driven by the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN), the Circle of Environmental Policies, Greenpeace Argentina, the Argentine Association of Environmental Lawyers, the Biodiversity Foundation, and Argentine Birds. The organizations expressed concern over the possibility of the bill advancing with an accelerated process, as it did in the Senate, and the public hearing being reduced to a mere formality. Specifically, subsection 5 of the aforementioned article requires that procedures provide reasonable timeframes to allow for effective and informed participation. The organizations also underline that the reform project itself explicitly cites the Escazú Agreement and recognizes the need to fulfill a participatory instance during its treatment in Congress. In this context, they warn that advancing in the legislative process without ensuring a public information and participation process could constitute an illegal act and lead to the nullity of the procedure for non-compliance with current regulations and environmental democracy standards. Therefore, they formally request that, before continuing with the legislative treatment, a broad participatory process with a federal scope and mechanisms that guarantee the effective participation of citizens and organizations from all provinces of the country be convened, in order to ensure a democratic debate around a norm considered pioneering in environmental law. During the debate of the plenary of the Constitutional Affairs and Natural Resources Commissions, lawmakers from different political sectors consider it essential to adopt a mechanism that guarantees the federal participation of the provinces involved in the management of affected river basins. It was established that March 25 will be the date for the first hearing, with the possibility of extending the process the following day through a virtual modality, which is a key step to ensure compliance with the General Environmental Law and article 41 of the National Constitution. The mechanism is designed to favor 'broad participation', allowing written presentations and establishing a five-minute speaking time per person, with a possible reduction if registration exceeds forecasts. To register, the email address of the natural resources commission was enabled. The call for the public hearing was accepted, and it was scheduled for March 25 and 26.
