Through a presidential decree, the Government will modify the Glacier Law (N° 26.639), in order to reduce protected areas and promote mining and hydrocarbon activities.
Official sources stated this during the past few days. The regulation aims to encourage the installation of extractive industries, the release of chemicals or waste, and the construction of infrastructure unrelated to scientific research.
As reported by TN, it also aims to grant powers to the provinces regarding the areas where industries can be developed.
Alert about the Glacier Law: what will change in the regulations
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Protection limits are redefined: only areas consisting exclusively of rock or active debris, with more than 1 ha, at least 2 years old, and registered in the National Glacier Inventory will retain safeguard status.
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Provincial authorizations are expanded to enable industries.
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Covered and uncovered glaciers will continue to be protected, and the obligation to submit environmental impact reports will remain.
According to the Executive, the decree will provide “legal certainty” for projects investing in periglacial areas, which faced uncertainty under current regulations.
The measure was promoted by the Ministry of Economy, led by Luis Caputo, along with the Ministry of Energy (María Tettamanti), the Energy and Mining Coordination (Daniel González), and the Legal and Technical Secretariat (María Ibarzabal).
Consequences for the environment and water supply
Periglacial areas play a critical hydraulic role: they regulate water courses and act as thermal regulators. Therefore, their violation could compromise the availability of freshwater in key basins.
Organizations like Greenpeace Argentina have already warned that “modifying it to favor investments without strict controls is a dangerous signal,” as these environments serve as strategic reserves against climate change.
In 2024, during the discussion of the “Bases Law,” similar modifications were proposed but were withdrawn due to lack of support in Congress.
The relevance of glaciers.
Even the UN warned in February 2024 that these changes were “regressive” and could undermine the environment for environmental defenders.
