Buenos Aires, December 15 (NA) – The Government announced on Monday that it has sent to Congress the project for the reform of the Glaciers Protection Act, during the extraordinary sessions period that runs until December 30. The President's Office announced this via social networks.
The initiative aims to order the current regulatory framework, end arbitrary interpretations, and consolidate a scheme of environmental federalism compatible with the National Constitution.
Criticism of the current regulations According to the official statement, more than 15 years after its enactment, the so-called 'Glaciers Act' has shown serious interpretive flaws that generated legal uncertainty, paralyzed productive investments, and affected the legitimate exercise of provincial powers over natural resources.
The reform proposes clear rules to protect glaciers that perform an effective water function, strengthen current environmental standards, and eliminate the discretion that “under ideological pretexts, hindered the country's economic development,” confirmed the Argentine News Agency.
Constitutional mandate and provincial role The project reaffirms the constitutional mandate of article 41, which requires protecting the environment without impeding human development, and article 124, which recognizes the original domain of the provinces over their natural resources.
In line with this, it strengthens the role of provincial authorities in environmental impact assessment, recognizes their technical and scientific capacity, and promotes efficient articulation with the National Glacier Inventory.
The official document defines this initiative as a “true reform of environmental federalism” that fulfills the commitments assumed in the May Pact.
Long-standing provincial claim The reform responds to the course set by President Javier Milei from day one: “To end regulatory paralysis, order the State, respect the Constitution, and unleash Argentina's productive forces.”
In addition, it meets the demand made by the provinces of the Lithium Table (Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta) and the Copper Table (Mendoza and San Juan), who requested to move towards a responsible and sustainable federal model over time.
Call for legislative treatment The Executive Branch requested that Congress give prompt treatment to this project and, in the law enactment process, ensure the proper participation of citizens.
The national Government is convinced that this reform represents “a decisive step to get Argentina back on its feet, with clear rules, real federalism, productive development, and economic growth.”
The initiative seeks to order a regulation that, according to the Executive, has generated over a decade of legal uncertainty and hindered the use of natural resources in the Andean provinces.
