Argentina

GIZ local staff

National employees: 4
International employees: 3

^{(as at: 31.12.2023)}  

Germany and Argentina signed a cooperation agreement back in 1976. While the German Government officially ended this cooperation in 2006, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has been more active in Argentina again since 2023. The projects are managed by the country office with regional responsibility in Lima, Peru.

Argentina belongs to the Group of Twenty (G20) largest industrialised and emerging economies. Although it was one of the richest countries in the world in the 1950s, Argentina is currently experiencing a severe political and economic crisis. This greatly restricts the government’s ability to act.

In 2022, the government published its climate action strategy. So far, however, the level of political commitment and the climate, forest and biodiversity protection programmes have not been sufficient in the context of international agreements. In addition, addressing climate issues and establishing a green economy receives only limited attention by the current government.

Without a clear policy framework, Argentina is also underutilising many of the raw materials available for the energy transition and the production of green hydrogen, particularly the huge potential to harness solar and wind energy.

In Argentina, GIZ is working in particular on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

Cooperation focuses on the following areas:

• Green economy and resource efficiency
• Environmental protection and climate action
• Energy transition and green hydrogen

GIZ advises Argentina on ways of improving political conditions and providing support to, for example, ministries and regional governments. This is key for a successful transition to a low-carbon, green and climate-friendly economy.

As part of this approach, GIZ implements measures to conserve and restore forests. A further priority is encouraging more efficient use of resources in industry and production. GIZ also strengthens Argentina’s climate policy and climate financing as well as the country’s contribution to international dialogue on environmental and climate policy.

In addition, GIZ assists Argentina in realising the potential of green hydrogen and producing hydrogen-based materials for use in energy supply. To this end, GIZ supports the development of markets for hydrogen products and an improved regulatory framework.