Oil and gas fuelling extreme weather in Argentina

The document links the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts, and floods in Argentina to human-caused climate change, specifically highlighting the role of fossil fuel emissions. It notes that while Argentina has a 2050 net-zero target, the government continues to prioritize oil and gas production, particularly in the Vaca Muerta fields, and provides significantly more investment to 'dirty energy' than to renewables. The briefing also identifies a lack of transparent emissions data for individual firms and notes that lobbying by fossil fuel companies has secured production-friendly policies.

• Attribution studies indicate that climate change has significantly increased the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather in Argentina, including a 2013 heatwave made five times more likely and a 2023 event that was 1.4-4.3ºC hotter due to fossil fuel emissions. Climate change also exacerbated agricultural drought in late 2022 by reducing water availability, contributing to a 1.6% shrinkage of the Argentinian economy in 2023 as agricultural production fell by 26%.
• Domestic oil and gas production is a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Argentina, with IEA data showing that emissions from oil grew by 43% and emissions from gas rose by 27% between 2000 and 2022. Fugitive emissions are a specific concern, with estimates suggesting approximately 10% of gas produced in the Vaca Muerta fields is lost through such leaks.
• Despite a 2050 net-zero target, the Argentinian government prioritizes fossil fuel expansion over renewable energy, with the 2021 budget allocating approximately USD 184 to 'dirty energy' for every USD 1 invested in renewables and efficiency. Climate Action Tracker has rated Argentina's overall policies as 'Critically Insufficient', the lowest possible rating, due to their failure to limit temperature rises in line with climate science.
• The oil and gas sector, led by the majority state-owned YPF and various international majors, has successfully lobbied the government for production-friendly policies and incentives for fossil fuel infrastructure. This is particularly evident in the expansion of production in the Vaca Muerta fields, as the government views increased production as the basis for future economic prosperity.

APA

Team, Z. (2024). Oil and gas fuelling extreme weather in Argentina. Zero Carbon Analytics. https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/insights/briefings/oil-and-gas-fuelling-extreme-weather-in-argentina/

Chicago

Team, ZCA. Oil and gas fuelling extreme weather in Argentina. Zero Carbon Analytics, 2024. https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/insights/briefings/oil-and-gas-fuelling-extreme-weather-in-argentina/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Team |first1=ZCA |title=Oil and gas fuelling extreme weather in Argentina |publisher=Zero Carbon Analytics |date=24 October 2024 |url=https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/insights/briefings/oil-and-gas-fuelling-extreme-weather-in-argentina/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{team2024oil, author = {Team, ZCA}, title = {{Oil and gas fuelling extreme weather in Argentina}}, institution = {Zero Carbon Analytics}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/insights/briefings/oil-and-gas-fuelling-extreme-weather-in-argentina/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }