Argentina Seismic testing cases

This case study describes three emergency lawsuits filed in Argentina to halt offshore seismic testing and fossil fuel exploration approved by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development for the Norwegian company Equinor via Resolution 436/2021.

• Three separate legal actions were initiated to stop offshore exploration activities approved by Resolution 436/2021 for the company Equinor. The first case, filed January 7 by an NGO, initially sought habeas corpus for the Southern Right Whale and its habitats, later evolving into a constitutional collective action that included claims regarding the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals, and reports from the International Energy Agency and IPCC.
• A second constitutional collective action filed by NGOs argues that the exploration project is incompatible with Argentina's national and international climate commitments and that the country's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement is inadequate. This suit claims the State is responsible for emissions from future fossil fuel exports and asserts that the Environmental Impact Assessment failed to consider climate impacts.
• A third constitutional collective action was filed on January 13, 2022, by the Mayor of the City of Mar del Plata. This case focuses on the Escazú Agreement's requirements for public participation and access to environmental information, while also arguing that Argentina's NDC lacks sufficient ambition and a required National Adaptation and Mitigation Plan.

APA

Natural Justice (2022). Argentina Seismic testing cases. https://naturaljustice.org/publication/environmental-court-cases-argentina-seismic-testing-cases/

Chicago

Natural Justice. Argentina Seismic testing cases. 2022. https://naturaljustice.org/publication/environmental-court-cases-argentina-seismic-testing-cases/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=Argentina Seismic testing cases |date=1 March 2022 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/publication/environmental-court-cases-argentina-seismic-testing-cases/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljustice2022argentina, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{Argentina Seismic testing cases}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2022}, month = mar, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/publication/environmental-court-cases-argentina-seismic-testing-cases/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }