Why is it in the News?

India is working with like-minded countries to promote regulated tourism in Antarctica as a steady increase in the number of tourists threatens to harm the fragile ecology in the White Continent.

About the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting:

• The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) is the annual meeting of the Parties to the 1959 Antarctic Treaty.
• The meeting serves as a platform for the exchange of information, discussion of common interests, and promotion of the principles and purposes of the Antarctic Treaty.
• The first ATCM was held in 1961, and initially occurred every other year, though the frequency has since increased.
• During the ATCM, representatives of the member countries address various issues related to Antarctica, such as environmental protection, scientific research, and tourism regulation.
  • Key agenda items include strategic planning for sustainable management of Antarctica and its resources, policy, legal, and institutional operations, and biodiversity prospecting.
• The ATCM is organized by the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, which is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was established in 2004.
  • The Secretariat is responsible for facilitating communication and information exchange among the parties involved in the Antarctic Treaty System.
• In recent years, the ATCM has been hosted by various countries, with India hosting the 46th meeting in 2024.
  • The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, through the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty will jointly organise the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) from 20 to 30 May 2024 at the Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre (LBICC) in Kochi, India.

What is the Antarctic Treaty?

• The Antarctic Treaty is an international agreement that aims to preserve and protect the Antarctic continent and its surrounding waters for scientific research and peaceful purposes.
• Signed on December 1, 1959, by 12 countries, the treaty came into effect on June 23, 1961.
• The treaty establishes Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to scientific research, and it designates the area south of 60°S latitude as a region free of military and nuclear activities.

Key aspects of the treaty include:

• • Freedom of scientific research and exploration, with cooperation among signatory nations
  • Exchange of scientific information and personnel between treaty member nations
  • Prohibition of military activities, such as the establishment of military bases or weapons testing
  • Prohibition of nuclear explosions and disposal of radioactive waste
  • Acknowledgement that no new territorial claims can be made on the continent
  • Designation of Antarctica as a "Special Conservation Area" to protect its ecosystems and native species
• Currently, 54 countries have ratified the Antarctic Treaty, and 29 of these countries have Consultative Party status.
  • Consultative Parties have the right to participate in decision-making processes related to the management and governance of the Antarctic region, while Non-Consultative Parties are encouraged to engage in scientific research and exchange information.
• On 12 September 1983, India became the fifteenth Consultative Member of the Antarctic Treaty.
• It participates in the decision-making process along with the other 28 Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty.
• India’s first Antarctic research station, Dakshin Gangotri, was established in 1983.
• At present, India operates two year-round research stations: Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2012).
• The permanent research stations facilitate Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica, which have been ongoing annually since 1981.
• In 2022, India enacted the Antarctic Act, reaffirming its commitment to the Antarctic Treaty.