The Argentine Senate passed a bill to reform the Glaciers Law. The bill, supported by 40 senators, opposed by 31, and one abstention, will now be sent to the Chamber of Deputies. The initiative aims to redefine protected areas to allow economic activity in certain periglacial regions that are currently shielded. The government argues this is necessary to attract mining and hydrocarbon investments in the Andean provinces. However, the opposition and environmental groups criticize the law, stating that it weakens environmental protection standards and is an ideological reform favoring corporate interests. "This is not just a technical change, but a paradigm shift," critics said. "We are moving from a scientific to a political criterion." During the debate, senators expressed polarized views. Some argued the law would create legal certainty and enable provinces to develop, while others warned of risks to water resources and the environment. Before the vote, Greenpeace activists staged protests outside Congress. Authorities detained a dozen protesters and used force against a TV cameraman trying to film the pepper-spraying incidents. The new legislation creates a National Inventory of Glaciers to be managed by Argentina's Institute of Nivology, Glaciology, and Environmental Sciences. The inventory will help distinguish periglacial forms that serve as strategic water reserves from those suitable for economic use. Despite its passage in the Senate, the controversy surrounding this bill, which touches the balance between economic development and environmental conservation, is set to continue.
Argentina's Senate Passes Controversial Glaciers Law Reform
Argentina's Senate approved a controversial bill to reform the Glaciers Law, sparking heated debate. The government claims it's needed for investment, while the opposition and environmentalists warn of threats to the environment and water resources.
