Argentina is currently participating in the 39th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, which is being held in Santiago de Chile until Wednesday 1 June. The Meeting gathers 53 signatories of the Antarctic Treaty and various organizations and NGOs.
Yesterday, at the meeting, the “Declaration of Santiago” was adopted in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the 1991 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, one of the main topics of the meeting.
The Environmental Protocol, signed in Madrid on 4 October 1991, is a key pillar of the “Antarctic Treaty System”.
The Consultative Parties stressed their duty to ensure that all activities carried out in Antarctica are consistent with the Antarctic Treaty System and to guarantee full enforcement of the principles and provisions contained in the Protocol and its Annexes with a view to supporting global protection of the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems. In this respect, they reaffirmed their strong and unconditional commitment to the objects and purposes of the Antarctic Treaty and its Environmental Protocol and they undertook to redouble their efforts to preserve and protect the Antarctic terrestrial and marine environments, as well as their associated ecosystems, taking into account the designation of Antarctica as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science.
They also confirmed their deep and clear commitment to the principles of cooperation in the planning and conduct of activities in the Antarctic Treaty area, and the prohibition of any activity relating to Antarctic mineral resources for purposes other than scientific research.
Moreover, they undertook to guarantee that current and future tourist and non-governmental activities will be carried out effectively, which includes addressing the difficulties and impacts arising from a potential increase in and diversification of those activities; they reaffirmed their intention to work together in order to understand changes in the Antarctic climate better and actively search for ways to mitigate the effects of climate change on the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems; and they renewed their commitment to promoting cooperation programmes with scientific, technical and educational value, including activities designed to protect the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems.
The Consultative Parties welcomed the increase in the number of Parties to the Environmental Protocol to thirty-seven —including Argentina— and encouraged adhesion by other States committed to the objects and purposes of the Protocol. They also undertook to make every effort to achieve the entry into force of Annex VI on Liability Arising From Environmental Emergencies to the Protocol on Environmental Protection.
Press Release No. 165/16
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