Speaking to a group of young climate action supporters at the presidential residence in Olivos on the first day of the 2019 Global Climate Change Strikes, President Mauricio Macri highlighted Argentina’s progress on climate action over the last four years, and called for the naturalization of environmental protection policies at all levels of government.

“We talk about how taking care of people should be at the core of policy development. Climate change and its effects are issues that concern and involve us all, transversally and globally,” said the President, explaining that adverse changes in climate that are now forcing us to recognize what we have done over many years to aggravate the situation, and assume greater responsibility.  

"You can count on me,” said the President to the young climate campaigners in the audience.

He recalled that at the start of his administration, he created a National Climate Change Cabinet, and called on the country’s provincial government, civil society, academic organizations and the private sector to work together on climate action.

Renewable energy development has also been a priority of the administration. Patagonia has some of the best winds for harnessing Aeolic energy, the north west of the country has an ideal climate for solar energy. Indeed, the Caucharí solar farm in the northern province of Jujuy will, when inaugurated, be the largest solar farm in South America. 20 other provinces already have biomass, biogas and hydropower projects up and running.

“Today, 12 percent of our energy comes from clean sources,” said Macri. “I hope this is only the beginning and will allow us to supplant fossil fuels as soon as possible,” he said.

Enlarging and creating new national parks to support environmental protection, has been another priority of President Macri’s administration. “In three and a half years, we have doubled the size of national parks and approved the country’s first Marine Protected Area,” Macri said.

“Over the last few years, Argentina has been one of a group of countries that has pushed to drive positive global solutions for our challenges. We need to continue working on everything within our reach, such as the use of energy, plastics, recycling, and responsible consumption," he said, adding that "important investment is needed to ensure we can adapt and prevent urban communities from being exposed to the risks and consequences caused by changes in climate and adverse weather conditions."