THE 10 MOST OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN ARGENTINA - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The environmental problems in Argentina that are most urgent to solve and that most concern this nation are climate change, water pollution, the management and disposal of solid waste, and the felling of forests or deforestation. This list of problems is led by climate change, which has resulted in global warming and polar melting.

The main effects of climate change in Argentina have been prolonged droughts, floods -especially in the central area of ​​the country-, torrential rains, tornadoes, retreat of glaciers and retreat of coastal areas. According to the report "Climate Models" of the Center for Research on the Sea and Atmosphere, Argentina is one of the countries most affected by global warming.

Air pollution, soil degradation and contamination, floods, loss of biodiversity, forest fires and mining are other environmental problems that affect Argentina.

Main environmental problems affecting Argentina

1- Climate change

This is a global phenomenon that is worrying the entire planet due to the implications it has for life and the environmental, social and economic consequences derived from this problem.

It is true that the climate on Earth has never been static and is always in constant variation. But when sudden changes in the climate are generated by man by altering the composition of the atmosphere, then alarms are activated.

Argentina is a developing country whose emissions represent only 0.88% of the world total, so it is not the problem but part of it. However, there has been a constant growth in these emissions in the last two decades.

This country is suffering the consequences of this phenomenon with the glacial melting, floods due to increased rainfall, droughts and the rise in average daily temperature.

In the next 20 years, several glaciers are expected to disappear, affecting the supply of water for human consumption.

2- Water pollution

Wastewater from industries and homes is discharged into rivers in the country and represents the first source of contamination of freshwater reservoirs. This problem only increases the high deficit of existing drinking water.

Industrial, agricultural and urban solid waste is also dumped into available water courses, without prevention and management programs being implemented for the conservation of the vital liquid.

The forecasts of water scarcity in the coming years in the country are alarming. This will prevent at least 90% of the population from having a reliable supply of drinking water, as established by the UN Millennium Development Goals.

3- Solid waste management and disposal

Argentina produces about 14,000,000 tons of solid waste each year, which is deposited in sanitary landfills and clandestine garbage dumps.

There is an inadequate handling of these wastes from industry, commerce, hospitals and homes, among other sources.

Half of this garbage could be recycled and used if there were reuse programs.

Garbage deposits in landfills cause seeps that end up contaminating underground water courses.

In the country there are close to 3,000 open dumps, located in 70% of the municipal entities with populations of less than 10,000 inhabitants. The rest are close to towns with more than 100,000 inhabitants.

As garbage is not recycled and properly treated, it increases soil, air and water pollution, putting people's health at risk.

4- Deforestation and desertification

The advance of urban and agricultural borders to the detriment of forests and green areas in cities and the countryside is another problem that worries Argentines.

Complete forests have been destroyed to make way for agricultural, livestock, forestry and forestry operations.

Soy plantations and other large-scale agro-industrial crops are another pressing problem in the process of deforestation and logging of native forests.

To obtain wood, firewood and charcoal, the forest industry also sacrifices large areas of forest.

The problem of indiscriminate deforestation is that it often destroys important catchment basins that the country needs.

The areas most affected by deforestation and desertification are the plains and plateaus (San Juan - Chubut), the Chaco Pampean plain (the Espinal), La Pampa (Caldén forests) and Buenos Aires (Los Talares).

5- Forest fires

Official figures indicate that the country lost 73 million hectares of forest in a century and, according to records up to 2011, there are 27 million native green hectares left.

This has occurred as a consequence of forest fires, deforestation, and desertification of vast areas in several provinces.

Recently the forest fires registered in La Pampa destroyed some 600 thousand hectares, causing the death of more than 1000 animals and millions of dollars in losses.

The problem has been recurring every year during the summer months. Only between November 2016 and January 2017, some 2,000,000 hectares were lost to the flames in the provinces of Mendoza, La Pampa, Buenos Aires and Río Negro.

6- polluting mining

Large-scale open-pit mining in some areas of the country such as La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza and Catamarca, with mostly semi-arid soils, is highly polluting.

Furthermore, it is causing serious ecological damage and contributing to the degradation of soils, water pollution and the destruction of forests.

In deposits located in mountainous areas - such as Veladero, Pascua Lama, Gualcamayo, Agua Rica, La Alumbrera, Sierra Pintada and Cerro Vanguardia, among others - hundreds of hectares of green areas and forests are sacrificed.

In recent years, the presence of international companies in the country has increased exponentially, which not only generate a high degree of social conflict but also environmental damage.

Environmental protection organizations are demanding the government to prevent mineral exploitation in protected areas to preserve ecosystems, native flora and fauna.

7- Air pollution

Toxic gas emanations from industries in general and from the chemical and hydrocarbon sectors are the leading cause of air and atmosphere pollution.

Urban transport and its permanent emissions are added to these emanations. Argentina's energy sources are 87% fossil in nature (oil and gas).

8- Soil contamination

The excessive use of agrochemicals such as weed killers, herbicides and pesticides, is a factor of contamination and degradation of existing arable soils.

In addition, the introduction of transgenic monocultures that reduce the diversity of agricultural products and deplete the soils has been reported.

9- Loss of biodiversity

This problem is caused mainly by the modification and loss of habitats caused by deforestation and the advancement of urban and agricultural borders.

Biodiversity in Argentina has also been affected by water and soil contamination.

Thousands of hectares of native forests, which are themselves very fragile ecosystems, have been razed to be occupied with crops or new urban development.

This has destroyed the habitat of various plant and animal species. In provinces like Córdoba complete ecosystems were exterminated.

The so-called sojisation happened to occupy 18 million hectares, with which around 7,000,000 million hectares of native forests and close to 1,000,000 natural pastures were destroyed.

10- Floods

Tropical flood forest in Madre de Dios, Peru

Every year entire populations and thousands of hectares planted are under water as a result of the floods that occur in the country.

Recently, the rains submerged large areas of the provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Chaco and Tucumán.

Floods cause rivers and streams to overflow. They represent 60% of the natural disasters that occur in Argentina and generate 95% of the economic damages and losses.

According to the World Bank, floods are currently the biggest threat to the country.

References

1. The ten main environmental problems of Argentina. Retrieved February 1, 2018 from redaf.org.ar
2. Environmental emergencies: the ten problems awaiting solution. Consulted of lanacion.com.ar
3. The five environmental problems that most concern Argentines. Consulted of clarin.com
4. Environmental pollution. "The great environmental debate will be ethical." Consulted of lavoz.com.ar
5. Climate change and pollution, the largest Argentine environmental debt. Consulted of cronista.com
6. Environmental Problems in Argentina. Consulted of Foroambiental.net
7. Colonel, Dickie MJ Climate Change: brief history and trends in the Humid Region. Consulted of inta.gob.ar
8. Floods, the greatest threat to Argentina. Consulted of lanacion.com.ar