Argentina’s parliament has approved a controversial bill backed by liberal President Javier Milei that eases mining restrictions in ecologically sensitive areas, including glaciers and permafrost. The amendments to the existing Glacier Law, already passed by the Senate in February, aim to facilitate the extraction of metals such as copper, lithium, and silver in the Andes.
After extensive debate, the Chamber of Deputies approved the bill with 137 votes in favor and 111 against, prompting significant protests outside parliament. Demonstrators, including Greenpeace activists who were arrested for unfurling a banner, expressed concerns about the threat to crucial water sources. Environmentalists argue that the changes undermine protections and conflict with scientific warnings about the unsustainability of mining in periglacial environments.
President Milei, who disputes man-made climate change, claims the bill will attract major mining projects and potentially triple Argentina’s mining exports by 2030. Supporters of the bill argue it clarifies the economic development of periglacial areas, while opponents warn that it jeopardizes water supply for about 70% of the population. The new law grants state-level decision-making authority regarding which protected areas may be exploited for economic purposes, a move backed by governors from mining-dependent provinces.
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