Argentina: Santa Cruz judicially stops the implementation of an environmental protection action:: The Federal Justice of Río Gallegos suspended President Javier Milei’s proposed reform to the Glacier Law in Santa Cruz province. The decision aims to protect crucial freshwater reserves and periglacial environments from potential mining activities, setting a significant precedent for other provinces.
Judge Claudio Marcelo Vázquez issued the injunction on April 24, coinciding with the reform’s official entry into force. The judicial action stemmed from an environmental protection appeal initiated by the Municipality of El Calafate, supported by local legislators for the annulment of the reform sanctioned on April 9.
Vázquez highlighted the irreversible harm extractive activities could cause to delicate ecosystems. The ruling prohibits any activities that could affect glaciers or the periglacial environment, ensuring immediate environmental protection and invoking the right to a healthy environment.
The legal battle between economic development and environmental preservation intensifies as the government defends the reform for economic growth. However, the judicial halt in Santa Cruz introduces uncertainty in the mining sector, with potential legal resolutions anticipated in other provinces.
Resistance to the reform is supported by legal precedents, including a 2019 Supreme Court ruling affirming the constitutionality of the original Glacier Law. This decision prioritized collective rights to access freshwater over commercial or individual interests, establishing a robust legal framework for environmental protection.
Author: Laura V. Mor Source: Agencies
