The government of Argentina has recently voted to reform an existing law that protects the country's numerous glaciers from mining activity and ensures water security for millions of people.
The change in the law, voted by the Chamber of Deputies with little public consultation, has provoked widespread protest by activists and environmentalists who argue that the policy shift undermines safeguards for high-altitude ice formations that serve as key freshwater reserves. Proponents of the new bill have countered by insisting the reform will generate billions for the economy and create thousands of jobs.
This gallery examines both sides of the argument and highlights the consequences such a measure could have on a fragile environment already suffering the effects of climate change. Click on to find out why Argentina's glaciers are under threat.