By: Cristián Frers, Higher Technician in Environmental Management and Higher Technician in Social Communication
Historically, in Argentina, an integrated environmental policy that considers the country as a whole and its different regions, addressing the main axes of an environmental policy has not been achieved.
Crucial aspects such as forests, waste, glaciers, biodiversity, climate change, and environmental economic management, among others, remain disconnected.
The root of this problem is the lack of political management, evidenced by a marked lack of interest in these issues by the current government, as well as by past administrations and, predictably, by future ones.
The prevailing strategy is limited to “patching up” reality, a method that prevents any substantial progress. The fundamental problem does not lie in the absence of laws, but in their systematic non-compliance.
Even though certain municipalities lack ordinances or certain provinces lack specific legislation, the central difficulty lies in the inability to enforce the regulations once they exist.
The corresponding enforcement authority in each case fails to exercise its authority, and the population, in turn, does not comply with the law in the absence of control.
During the 2024-2025 biennium, environmental policy in Argentina has experienced significant setbacks. This is due to a government focus on fiscal surplus and deregulation, which resulted in a reduction of funds for key environmental areas, the halt or elimination of renewable energy and fire management programs.
This is compounded by the potential weakening of environmental controls through the Bases Law and the Regime of Incentives for Large Investments (RIGI), which could favor extractive activities without proper prior studies, prioritizing business use over human use.
All this occurs in a context of worsening climate crisis, demonstrated by extreme events such as fires and floods, endangering public health and the sustainability of ecosystems.
Criticism of environmental management in the Province of Buenos Aires often focuses on the lack of effective implementation of the Forest Law, non-compliance with waste management regulations, and insufficient funding for environmental protection.
Other criticisms include the proliferation of activities such as sand mining, which pollutes soils and waters, and poor urban planning. The latter exacerbates floods due to rising water levels, affecting the health and environment of the population.
Cristian Muzzio, Director of Environment in Carmen de Areco[/caption>
The vision expressed by Cristian Muzzio, Director of Environment in the Municipality of Carmen de Areco, during an interview with the local radio station FM Sincope, where he stated: “From the Environment Department, we want to address all social issues. To understand the environment and move away from biology… that one we studied, which was the concept of biology, physics, chemistry, and the interrelation between species.
We understand that as our Minister, Daniela Vilar, from the Province of Buenos Aires, and the Mayor, Ivan Villagran, say, we must be based on that popular environmentalism that happens daily. It’s how we treat our animals, how we treat our neighbor, how we handle waste in our home, how we treat the trees we have along our municipal line.”
This perspective is not related to ecology or environment; it leans more towards populism. Things are getting mixed up.
Muzzio added: “It’s a more comprehensive and integral view based on the fact that environmentalism is no longer just a technical issue, but we are ALL part of it unless we dissociate ourselves into thinking that the animals, the river, the forest, the sea, and we forget that in that struggle, we are there, and we might position ourselves as enemies of the chain where we don’t exist and end up not understanding how to share and coexist with NATURE, but rather denigrate it or take on responsibilities that do not belong to us.”
Environmental policy, whether at a municipality level or any scale, must be based on concern and the development of objectives aimed at improving the environment, preserving the natural principles of human life, and promoting sustainable development, both in the public and private spheres.
In my opinion, environmental policy is the definition of a harmonious and interconnected set of objectives aimed at improving the environment and the proper management of natural resources.
To these goals must be added specific decisions and actions aimed at their fulfillment, with the necessary support of regulations, institutions, and procedures that ensure the functionality of such policies.
In summary, it is about the political efforts to preserve the natural foundations of human life and achieve sustainable development.
Our generation faces the most extraordinary opportunity for greatness that no other generation in the history of humanity has had. If we do not change our course and simply watch as our locality, our province, our country, or our planet collapse, we will be more hated than any other generation that has ever existed.
Future generations will see that we had more than enough information to understand the problems we have created and will see with the same clarity that we failed in our task of saving Nature. And they will hate us for it because we will have exchanged our comfort for their future.
Cristián Frers – Higher Technician in Environmental Management and Higher Technician in Social Communication (Journalist).
