{"id":50362482,"date":"2023-01-26T17:40:07","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T17:40:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dialogochino.net\/?p=62482"},"modified":"2023-06-08T13:39:58","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T12:39:58","slug":"362482-argentinas-new-plan-for-reducing-carbon-emissions-analysed-in-depth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/climate\/362482-argentinas-new-plan-for-reducing-carbon-emissions-analysed-in-depth\/","title":{"rendered":"Argentina\u2019s new plan for reducing carbon emissions – analysed in depth"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2020, Argentina pledged<\/a> not to exceed 349 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2030 \u2013  a 4.6% reduction on emissions recorded in 2018, the most recent year for which data<\/a> is available. The country\u2019s new \u201cClimate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Plan<\/a>\u201d is a roadmap for making this happen.<\/p>\n

The plan includes 250 public policy measures to be implemented by 2030 and prioritises natural gas as a transition fuel. It also calls for lower emissions in agriculture and livestock activity, and focuses heavily on improving water management.<\/p>\n

The cost? More than US$185 billion, equivalent to 40% of Argentina\u2019s GDP in 2021. The government has already announced that it will seek international financing to implement it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the main objectives of the plan was to make climate change a cross-cutting issue in all areas of the national government,\u201d explains Florencia Mitchell, national director of climate change at Argentina\u2019s environment ministry. \u201cIn creating the plan, we\u2019re taking the first step towards achieving that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The plan proposes action on areas including agroecology, reducing food waste, controlling deforestation, conserving natural ecosystems and improving livestock practices, such as by raising a larger number of cows on less land.<\/p>\n

However, experts warn that it fails to define sufficient metrics to check progress over time. \u201cOf the 122 mitigation measures, only 18 have quantifiable emission reduction potential,\u201d says Bel\u00e9n Alejandra Silva, an Argentinean environmental consultant. \u201cThere are 36 measures that do not have defined targets and another 56 without indicators.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gasification \u2013 stranded assets?<\/h2>\n

The energy sector, excluding transport, contributes 37% of Argentina\u2019s emissions. To reduce these, the plan proposes the use of natural gas as a priority. \u201cMeasures will be implemented to gasify energy consumption currently supplied by liquid fuels derived from petroleum,\u201d the document states.<\/p>\n

Vaca Muerta \u2013 one of the largest unconventional hydrocarbon deposits in the world, in Neuqu\u00e9n province, northwest Patagonia \u2013 is seen as key to increasing natural gas production<\/a> in the country.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Read more: Argentina climate sec: \u2018Natural gas is fundamental for our development\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cGiven the level of poverty in Argentina, a huge number of people need energy [but are currently unable to access it],\u201d says Diego Roger, a researcher at the University of Quilmes and an energy specialist. \u201cIt is not possible to increase the supply to the levels they\u2019ll require with renewables alone, because of issues of cost, grid stability and infrastructure. Gas is a relatively clean alternative.\u201d<\/p>\n

The plan also refers to the expansion of renewables and cites Law 27.191<\/a>, which establishes that by the end of 2025, 20% of electricity consumption must come from clean sources. According to official data<\/a>, the renewables sector had a 13.5% share of Argentina\u2019s energy demand in the third quarter of 2022. Although the share of renewables has been on the rise (from 2.5% of demand in 2018), investments have slowed since 2019 as a result of the economic crisis.<\/p>\n

Despite this, official estimates<\/a> indicate that the share of fossil sources in electricity generation will fall from around 60% at present to 30-40% in 2030. This improvement could be supported by the implementation of hydroelectric projects such as A\u00f1a Cu\u00e1<\/a>, Jorge Cepernic, N\u00e9stor Kirchner<\/a> and Chihuido I<\/a>, the plan states.<\/p>\n

\u201cCurrently, 64% of the population has gas and 94% has electricity [in their homes],\u201d says Pablo Bertinat, director of the Energy and Sustainability Observatory at Argentina\u2019s National Technological University. \u201cTherefore, rather than moving towards massive gasification, it\u2019s more viable to improve the country\u2019s electricity infrastructure and thus avoid having stranded gas assets in 15 years’ time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Transport \u2013 moving on from oil<\/h2>\n

The transport sector accounts for 13% of Argentina\u2019s emissions.
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