Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, also known as the Antarctic-Environmental Protocol is part of the Antarctic Treaty System. It provides for comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems.

It opened for signature on October 4 1991 and entered into force seven years later on January 14 1998.

Key Articles of the Treaty

* Article 3 states that protection of the Antarctic environment as a wilderness with aesthetic and scientific value shall be a "fundamental consideration" of activities in the area.
* Article 7 states that "Any activity relating to mineral resources, other than scientific research, shall be prohibited." This provision contrasts with the rejected Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities, which would have allowed mining under the control and taxation of an international managing body similar to the International Seabed Authority.
* Article 8 requires environmental assessment for all activities, including tourism.
* Article 11 creates a Committee for Environmental Protection for the continent.
* Article 15 calls for member states to be prepared for emergency response actions in the area.
* Articles 18-20 arrange for arbitration of international disputes regarding Antarctica.
* Article 25(5) states that the Article 7 ban on mining may not be repealed unless a future treaty establishes a binding regulatory framework for such activity.

Members

The treaty has been ratified by 27 parties — Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, the People's Republic of China, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay

A further 16 — Austria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine — have signed but not yet ratified it.

External links

* [http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_antarctica/geopolitical/treaty/update_1991.php Full text of the protocol]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Antarctic Treaty System — The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth s only continent without a native human population. For the purposes of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Antarctic Treaty System — Die Antarktis und ihre Nachbarschaft Der Antarktisvertrag ist eine internationale Übereinkunft, die festlegt, dass die unbewohnte Antarktis zwischen 60 und 90 Grad südlicher Breite ausschließlich friedlicher Nutzung, besonders der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Antarctic Treaty Secretariat — The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat is an organization created on September 2004 by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) for the management of several ATCM tasks such as the support of the annual meeting of signatory countries of the… …   Wikipedia

  • List of environmental agreements — List of international environmental agreements. Most of the following agreements are legally binding. Agreements are listed in both alphabetical order and in order of topic.These lists need tidying up and making congruent with one… …   Wikipedia

  • Selected International Environmental Agreements — Air Pollution see Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution Air Pollution Nitrogen Oxides see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their… …   Universalium

  • Timeline of environmental events — Expand list|date=August 2008The timeline of environmental events is a historical account of events that have shaped humanity s perspective on the environment. This timeline includes some major natural events, human induced disasters,… …   Wikipedia

  • List of abbreviations in the CIA World Factbook — This is a list of abbreviations used in the CIA World Factbook [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the world factbook/appendix/appendix a.html CIA The World Factbook Appendix A ] ] . A*ABEDA Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa *ACC …   Wikipedia

  • List of environmental topics (A) — This is a list of environmental topics. They relate to the effect of human activity on the environment.A*A CHAMP (Advocates for Children s Health Affected by Mercury Poisoning) (US) *Abrupt climate change *Acid mine drainage (acid rock drainage)… …   Wikipedia

  • Abbreviations for Selected International Environmental Agreements — A Air Pollution Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution Air Pollution Nitrogen Oxides Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their… …   Universalium

  • List of Antarctic expeditions — This List of Antarctic expeditions is a chronological list of expeditions involving Antarctica.Pre expedition*600 300 BCE Greek Philosophers theorize Spherical Earth with the antipodes North and South Polar regions. *150 CE Ptolemy published… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”