Argentina's Congress has passed a controversial amendment to the Glacier Law that makes it easier to mine in glacier and periglacial regions. The amendment shifts responsibility for defining protected glacier areas from the national institute Ianigla to provincial governments. Provinces can now decide whether glaciers in their region are of strategic importance, providing water for consumption, agriculture, biodiversity, science, or tourism.
The amendment was approved by the Chamber of Deputies with 137 votes in favor, 111 against, and 3 abstentions. Argentina's Senate had already approved the bill in February 2026, completing the legislative process for this significant environmental policy change.
Argentina's glaciers play a crucial role in the nation's water supply and climate resilience, with 16,968 glaciers providing water to 36 river basins across 12 provinces, home to seven million people. Water from melted glaciers helps reduce the impact of droughts, especially in semi-arid provinces like Mendoza. In northwestern Argentina, glacial reserves have shrunk by 17% in the last decade, mainly due to climate change, highlighting the vulnerability of these critical water sources.
Under the new law, if provinces deem glaciers not strategic, they can remove them from Ianigla's national inventory, stripping environmental protections. This provision allows provincial governments to potentially exclude glaciers from conservation measures based on their assessment of strategic importance.
Supporters argue the amendment will boost regional economies and Argentina's energy transition by allowing copper, lithium, and silver mining projects. President Javier Milei says the bill is necessary to attract large-scale mining projects and that environmentalists would rather see Argentinians starve than have anything touched. Governors from mineral-rich provinces (Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, Mendoza, San Juan) supported the bill, stating the 2010 law hindered sustainable economic development by imposing strict mining restrictions in glacier areas.
Opponents argue the amendment threatens water security for millions by allowing large-scale mining that could alter river flows from the Andes. They warn that mining activities in glacier and periglacial regions could contaminate water sources and disrupt the natural hydrological systems that millions depend on for drinking water, agriculture, and ecosystem health.
Public reaction to the amendment has been marked by protests, with thousands of people demonstrating outside parliament against the changes, leading to isolated skirmishes with police. Seven Greenpeace activists were arrested after scaling a statue outside parliament and unfurling a banner, reflecting the intensity of opposition to the legislative change.
Key unknowns remain regarding the implementation of the amendment, including what specific criteria provinces will use to determine if a glacier is 'strategic' and thus protected. It is unclear how many glaciers are likely to be removed from the national inventory and lose protections under the new system, or what immediate mining projects are planned in glacier or periglacial areas following the amendment's passage.
Further unknowns involve how the amendment will affect Argentina's international commitments on climate change and environmental protection, given the global significance of glaciers in mitigating climate impacts. The potential for legal challenges to the amendment also remains uncertain, as environmental groups may contest the constitutionality or implementation of the new provisions.