Geopolitical tension and the prospect of potential mineral
reserves are straining peace and environmental protection in
Antarctica, MPs say in a report published today.
The cross-party Environmental Audit Committee has published its
report on ‘the UK and the Antarctic environment', following an
inquiry begun by its predecessor Sub-Committee on Polar Research
in the last Parliament.
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine has disrupted the
consensus-based operation of the Antarctic Treaty System,
complicating international cooperation,” MPs say. “While the
Antarctic Treaty System has largely insulated Antarctica from
geopolitical tensions, they clearly have an effect.”
MPs also find that climate change in Antarctica poses an
“existential risk” to the UK by driving sea level rise, making it
imperative to act now to protect both the Antarctic ecosystem and
the UK's coastlines.
The Committee argues for the importance of limiting global
warming to 1.5°C, to prevent further destabilisation of
Antarctica's ice sheets and glaciers, and recommends the
Government continue to take a leading role within the Antarctic
Treaty System and the UN's COP climate negotiations, including by
ensuring that Antarctic issues are consistently represented.
The report comes after the Prime Minister pledged to spend 3% of
GDP on defence in the next Parliament, partly to counter the
threat posed by Russia, while the Defence Committee recently
heard evidence on Russia's decades-long “remilitarisation” of the
Arctic.
The region is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS),
through which members agree to use Antarctica for peaceful and
scientific purposes only. This system has successfully preserved
the region since it was established in 1959, but the Committee
warns that increasing geopolitical tensions, particularly the war
in Ukraine, are putting significant strain on this consensus.
This tension threatens to undermine the ability of states to
respond to climate change in Antarctica, risking further
disruption to Antarctica's unique ecology and biodiversity, with
consequences for the rest of the world. For example, experts
warned the Committee that the decline of the Emperor Penguin –
found only in Antarctica –is not only a conservation concern, but
a stark signal of the broader disruptions caused by climate
change.
The Committee also highlights concerns around the environmental
risks posed by any interest in Antarctica's mineral resources.
Mining is banned under the Protocol on Environmental Protection
to the Antarctic Treaty, which remains in force indefinitely.
However, some reports have suggested that Russia may have
conducted seismic surveys in Antarctic waters. If substantiated,
the Committee warns that such actions would endanger the fragile
Antarctic environment.
“Failure to address these concerns could set a dangerous
precedent, opening the door for future exploitation, and
threatening the environmental protections that the Antarctic
Treaty System was designed to uphold,” the Committee says,
recommending that the UK and other parties maintain robust
oversight and collaboration to ensure strict adherence to the
Protocol.
The Committee recommends that the UK continue to lead efforts to
protect Antarctica by reinforcing partnerships within the Treaty
System. It encourages the Government to foster dialogue with all
treaty members, including China. It also recommends expanding
joint research efforts, so the UK can play a pivotal role in
shaping informed decisions on climate change and environmental
protection within the ATS.
MPs also reject the use of geoengineering – human interventions
in the Earth's climate system, designed to counter climate change
– in Antarctica. They say these projects appear to be impractical
due to their high costs, technical challenges and environmental
risks.
Relying on geoengineering over addressing the causes of Antarctic
ice loss risks delaying action to reduce carbon emissions, the
Committee says, and it recommends the Government firmly
prioritise decarbonisation as the most effective, affordable, and
sustainable response to climate change.
Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, , MP, said:
“When the Antarctic Treaty System was established in 1959,
competing claims to Antarctica were frozen. States agreed to cast
aside their strategic interests and preserve the region for
scientific research and sustainability. Right now, there is a
real risk of that consensus disintegrating.
It is impossible to overstate how critical this region is to our
shared future. We must work to dial down the temperature in
Antarctica, both in regard to the geopolitical tensions between
states and in ocean temperatures that drives ice melt and
sea level rise, which affect us here in the UK too.
The UK has played a crucial role in Antarctic marine protection,
sustainable fisheries management, and research and science
through its world class research institutes. In light of cuts to
the UK's international aid budget, the Government should commit
to sustained funding for the Blue Belt Programme through the
Official Development Assistance or other mechanisms, with an
emphasis on science, monitoring and enforcement.
The UK has also previously played a leading role in maintaining
the Antarctic Treaty System and promoting climate science across
the region. Now is the time to go further, by expanding joint
scientific research efforts and working with our partners to make
the case for consensus.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The full list of conclusions and
recommendations can be found on page 94 of the report.
