Argentina approves Milei’s bill that eases protections for glaciers, despite environmental backlash

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🗞️ Driving the news: Argentina’s Congress has approved a bill backed by President Javier Milei that weakens protections for glaciers to facilitate mining investments, triggering strong backlash from environmental groups

🔭 The context: The reform modifies a landmark 2010 glacier protection law that previously banned mining on glaciers and surrounding periglacial zones
• The new framework narrows protections to only glaciers with “specific hydrological functions,” allowing provinces to decide which areas qualify
• The government argues the change could unlock over $30 billion in mining investments, mainly in copper, gold and silver projects, while environmental organizations such as Greenpeace are preparing legal challenges

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Glaciers in the Andes Mountains act as critical freshwater reservoirs, regulating river flows and supplying water to arid regions
• Weakening protections could increase environmental pressure on already retreating glaciers as climate change accelerates ice loss, threatening ecosystems, agriculture and long-term water security

⏭️ What’s next: Environmental groups are organizing class-action lawsuits to challenge the law in court, while the government moves to implement the new framework aimed at attracting large-scale mining investment

💬 One quote: “If they refuse to listen in Congress, they will be forced to listen in the courts,” environmental organizations said after the bill’s passage

📈 One stat: rgentina is home to 16,968 glaciers covering about 3,276 square miles, many of which help sustain water supplies in the country’s driest regions

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