Transition Policies as a Local problem. The Cases of Neuquén and Río Negro (Argentine Patagonia)

PÉREZ ROIG, DIEGO; FERNÁNDEZ MASSI, MARIANA; DI RISIO, DIEGO

Energy Transitions in Latin America. The tough Route to Sustainable Development

Springer

Año: 2023; p. 157 - 174

The success of the actions and policies implemented to tackle climate change depends on acomplex articulation of interests functioning on different scales. Such a discussion has taken placelargely in instances of coordination and conflict at the level of national States. However, the search for long-term agreements to not only mitigate the global risks and impacts of climate change, but also to build strategies for ‘sustainable development’ in economic and social terms, requires the integration of agendas that are deeply rooted at both sub-national and local levels. This article purports to contribute an examination of this problem, taking as empirical references the cases of the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro, located in the north of Argentine Patagonia. The province of Neuquén is leading the way regarding large-scale developments to exploit non-conventional hydrocarbons (NCH) both in Argentina and, in general, outside of North America. This activity undoubtedly provides a boost to the provincial economy, but also adds to its continuing historical configuration as an oil enclave. In neighbouring Río Negro, there is less extraction activity of the non-conventional kind, and what there is occurs within a more diversified production matrix. However, here, it is also presented as an alternative with the capacity to produce a surplus, given the drawn-out crisis in the fruit and vegetable sector. Against this background, the question is to what extent the contradictions and limits inherent to these development strategies are entwined with the problems posed by the energy transition. What are the local implications and consequences of a development model based on the exploitation of those energy sources?