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Sat, 11 Apr 2026

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 'Every drop of water counts': Fear for the future of Argentina's glaciers

A controversial law to ease protections for the glaciers has passed, opening the doors for mining.
Argentina's government has loosened protections for glaciers, which provide water for millions of people and 16,968 vineyards in the country. The change means that provincial governments will decide which glaciers are protected and which can be developed for mining projects. Winemakers in Mendoza, Argentina's wine capital, rely on glacier-fed rivers to irrigate their crops. They fear that loosening protections will threaten their water supply. Environmentalists and local communities have spoken out against the changes, with over 100,000 people participating in a public hearing on the issue. The Argentine government says the reforms are necessary to boost regional economies and energy production through mining projects. However, critics argue that large-scale mining could alter river flows and threaten water security for millions of people.