Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Killings and repression of defenders · Argentina · 2023–2024

Catamarca court orders cumulative impact study for lithium sites

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
What the record lacks: 4 none on record · 1 not measured · 3 unclear See the gaps

The Supreme Court of Catamarca ordered a precautionary cumulative environmental impact study for lithium sites and halted new permits in March 2024, Microjuris Al Día reported. In Jujuy, Indigenous communities blocked roads in 2023 against a constitutional reform that would centralise lithium oversight.

What?
The Supreme Court of Catamarca ordered a cumulative environmental impact study for lithium sites in the Río Los Patos and Salar del Hombre Muerto areas. Microjuris Al Día
Where?
Jujuy and Catamarca provinces, Argentina Agencia Presentes
When?
Jujuy protests June 2023; Catamarca ruling March 2024 Microjuris Al Día
Who?
Gained
  • Lithium operators in Argentina — Royalty limited to 3% of mine-mouth value, and about 2% in Jujuy with incentives (Chequeado) Chequeado
Lost
None on record
Harmed
  • Salinas Grandes and Guayatayoc communities — Blocked roads in 2023 and faced repression, per Agencia Presentes Agencia Presentes
Why?
Jujuy reform: centralising lithium oversight, per Agencia Presentes. Catamarca ruling: impact study before new permits. Agencia Presentes
How?
Road blockades by communities; precautionary court order in Catamarca. Microjuris Al Día
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

Agencia Presentes reported in June 2023 that the Salinas Grandes and Guayatayoc communities blocked roads against a Jujuy constitutional reform centralising lithium oversight, and that they faced repression.

Microjuris Al Día reported that in March 2024 the Supreme Court of Catamarca ordered a precautionary cumulative impact study covering the Río Los Patos and Salar del Hombre Muerto areas and halted new permits; the existing Fénix project continues.

Chequeado reported that Argentina's lithium royalty is limited to 3% of mine-mouth value, and about 2% in Jujuy with incentives.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    1. 2024-03-13Outcome not on record
      Precautionary cumulative environmental impact study, Catamarca lithium sites
      Supreme Court of Catamarca · unknown · not stated in sources reviewed → not stated in sources reviewed

      Court ordered a precautionary cumulative environmental impact study for the Río Los Patos and Salar del Hombre Muerto areas and halted new permits; the existing Fénix project continues, per Microjuris Al Día. Microjuris Al Día

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Court

    • Unclear Precautionary cumulative environmental impact study, Catamarca lithium sites: outcome not on record.

    Record

    • None on record The status of the Fénix project after the ruling is not stated beyond its continued operation in 2024.
    • Unclear Whether the cumulative impact study has been completed is not stated.
    • None on record The scale and nature of the repression in Jujuy are not described in the sources reviewed.
    • None on record El Ancasti is cited for the Catamarca ruling but has no URL in the sources reviewed; it is not used as a source.
    • None on record Who brought the Catamarca case is not stated in the sources reviewed.
    • Unclear Whether the Jujuy constitutional reform was adopted is not stated.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Press and investigations

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