Given the need in Argentina to stimulate economic development and tackle poverty, combatting climate change is not high on the country's agenda. Argentina is nevertheless involved in international climate regulation and is taking steps towards developing its national legislation in this area.
Greenhouse gas emissions have increased in Argentina since 1990, and the trend looks like it going to continue.
Argentina has two kinds of obligations under the Paris Agreement: conditional (the implementation of which depends on a number of circumstances) and unconditional (which must be carried out no matter what).
The unconditional target is to reduce GHG emissions (including net zero anthropogenic GHG emissions from all sectorsLULUCF) by 15% before 2020 with respect to BAU emissions for that year. In order for this target to be met, a number of measures are to be implemented. These include developing sustainable forest management, improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of biofuels, atomic energy and RES, as well as measures in the transport sector. These measures have been chosen according to their potential for reducing emissions, as well as for the fact that national technologies could be developed as a result of carrying them out.
The 15% target could be increased to 30% if the following conditions are met:
- obtaining sufficient and predictable international financing;
- supporting technological and innovation development;
- supporting the development of new capacities in the energy sector.
It is very likely that Argentina will reach its unconditional target. Assuming that it receives support in the form of international financing for technology development, Argentina plans to improve its early warning systems for natural disasters and improve its measures for the conservation of biodiversity.