The Antarctic Treaty signed 1959 declares that ""in the interest of all mankind"", Antarctica would be ""demilitarised and allowed to be used only for peaceful purposes"". Science was placed as the cornerstone of peaceful coexistence and cooperation in the international community. The Treaty has provided a solid mechanism for governing the Antarctic and over the years, the ATS has expanded and new legal instruments have been developed such as the Protocol on Environmental Protection. The increased accessibility of Antarctica, however, has brought up a number of issues that did not need to be considered in the early years of the Treaty; the effects of rapidly advancing climate change, growing tourism and use of natural resources are examples of new challenges. Has the Treaty the capacity to cope with these challenges?
This presentation will discuss the main goals of the next ATCM meeting to be held in Helsinki on May 29 – June 8, 2023.
