- 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 onJanuary 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 rejectedConvention 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 theInternational 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* Article 25(5) states that the Article 7 ban on mining may not be repealed unless a future treaty establishes a binding regulatory framework for such activity.Members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 , thePeople'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 , andUruguay 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
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