Global Governance of Antarctica (AQA A Level Geography)

• Antarctica is not a nation-state and does not have a government to manage it or make decisions
• However, several nations have made territorial claims to particular parts of the continent - Australia, Chile, Argentina, Norway, France, New Zealand and the UK
• Some of the claims overlap but none of them are universally recognised by the international community

Map of territorial claims in Antarctica

• If individual countries act in their own self-interest, rather than the interest of the global community, it will become damaged and depleted
• As a global common that is threatened by over-exploitation, Antarctica needs to be governed by global institutions to manage it sustainably

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• UNEP was established by the United Nations in 1972 to provide global leadership and encourage cooperation in caring for the environment
• Some ways that UNEP helps to protect Antarctica are:
• Coordinating and promoting global policies to address key environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and waste
• Supporting research and monitoring in Antarctica to enhance knowledge and understanding of the impacts of human activity
• Raising awareness about the importance of Antarctica and its unique biodiversity
• Supporting the development of responsible tourism strategies in Antarctica 

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

The International Whaling Commission

Antarctic Treaty

The Antarctic Treaty

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

• As pressure on Antarctica grew, it was decided that the Treaty needed to be strengthened to enhance the protection of the environment
• The Protocol on Environmental Protection (also known as the Madrid Protocol) was signed by 45 nations in 1991
• It established Antarctica as a ‘natural reserve, devoted to peace and science’

Key elements of the Protocol on Environmental Protection

• NGOs play an important role in monitoring threats and enhancing the protection of Antarctica
• The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) was founded in 1978 by a group of NGOs that were concerned about the impact of human activity in the region
• The coalition includes Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF)
• ASOC promotes scientific research and the conservation and sustainable use of the area
• It raises awareness of environmental issues in the region and fights for stronger environmental protections
• ASOC has actively promoted the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) to conserve and protect the diverse and unique wildlife
• e.g. an MPA in the pristine and ecologically important Weddell Sea region would help to protect a range of species, including penguins, whales and seals

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Antarctic Treaty 

Strengths and Weaknesses of the International Whaling Commission