Antarctic Parliament
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Context:
- India is hosting the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46), also known as the Antarctic Parliament, from May 20-30 in Kochi.
46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46)
- The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa, through the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has organised the meeting.
- It will be attended by the 56 member countries of the Antarctic Treaty.
- India had last hosted the ATCM in New Delhi in 2007.
Agenda before ATCM
- The ATCM is meant to facilitate a global dialogue on law, logistics, governance, science, tourism, and other aspects of the southern continent.
- During the conference, India will seek to promote the idea of peaceful governance in Antarctica, and underline that geopolitical tensions elsewhere in the world should not interfere with the protection of the continent and its resources.
- India would also introduce a new working group for regulating tourism on the continent. The working group will work to formulate regulations, track tourist activities, and lay down rules.
- The Netherlands, Norway, and some other European countries that share India’s views on formulating regulations for tourism in Antarctica, will be part of this working group.
- Currently, tourism to Antarctica is driven by tour operators, and little is known about the threat tourists may pose to Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem.
- India will also officially table its plan to construct Maitri II before the members. Any new construction or initiative in Antarctica requires the ATCM’s approval.
- Discussions on sustainable management of Antarctica and its resources; biodiversity prospecting; inspections and exchange of information and data; research, collaboration, capacity building and cooperation; and climate change impacts on Antarctica and beyond will be held.
The Antarctic Treaty
- Original signatories: Twelve countries — Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the USSR, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- Signed on December 1, 1959.
- The treaty came into force in 1961.
- Total members- 56 countries. Of the 56 nations that are part of the Antarctic Treaty, 29 have consultative party status.
- India joined in 1983 as a consultative party.
The Antarctic Treaty, which was signed during the Cold War, effectively designated Antarctica as a “no man’s land”, outside the bounds of international geopolitical competition. A few key features of the treaty are:
- Antarctica shall be used only for peaceful purposes, and no militarisation or fortification shall be allowed.
- All signatories will have the freedom to carry out scientific investigations, and should share plans for scientific programmes, extend required cooperation, and freely make available the data gathered.
- Nuclear testing or disposal of radioactive waste materials shall be prohibited anywhere in Antarctica.
Today, the treaty forms the basis of all governance and activities in Antarctica, the fifth-largest continent on the planet.
India in Antarctica
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1983 |
●India became a consultative party to the Antarctic Treaty. In this capacity, India votes and participates in all key decision-making processes regarding Antarctica. |
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1983 |
●The first Indian Antarctica research station, Dakshin Gangotri, was set up in 1983, some 2,500 km from the South Pole in Queen Maud Land. The station operated till 1990. |
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1989 |
●India set up its second Antarctica research station, named Maitri, in the Schirmacher Oasis, a 3-km wide ice-free plateau with over 100 freshwater lakes. It is still operational and located about 5 km from Russia’s Novolazarevskaya Station, and 90 km from Dakshin Gangotri. According to the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Maitri can accommodate 65 persons in summer, and 25 in the winter. |
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2012 |
●India inaugurated Bharati, its third Antarctica research station, located around 3,000 km east of Maitri, on the Prydz Bay coast. Although the station focuses on oceanographic and geologic study, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) utilises it for receiving Indian Remote sensing Satellite (IRS) data. The station can support up to 72 individuals during summer, and 47 in winter. |
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2022 |
●India enacted the Antarctic Act, reaffirming its commitment to the Antarctic Treaty. |
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● Future prospects |
●India plans to open a new station, Maitri II, a few kilometres from the ageing Maitri station. Operations are set to begin by 2029. |
Source:
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. With reference to the Antarctic Treaty, consider the following statements: 1) The treaty prohibits military activities and fortifications on the continent of Antarctica. 2) Consultative parties are those nations that have full voting rights and decision-making powers within the Antarctic Treaty System. 3) Nuclear testing and the disposal of radioactive waste materials are permitted in designated areas of Antarctica under the treaty. 4) India became a consultative party to the Antarctic Treaty in 1983. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) only one Answer: c) Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: ●The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959, designates Antarctica as a demilitarized zone, prohibiting any military activities, including the establishment of military bases or fortifications, on the continent. Statement 2 is correct: ●Consultative parties are countries that have demonstrated their interest in Antarctica's governance by actively participating in scientific research and cooperating with other treaty parties. They have full voting rights and decision-making powers within the Antarctic Treaty System. ●Original signatories: Twelve countries — Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the USSR, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Statement 3 is incorrect: ●The Antarctic Treaty expressly prohibits nuclear testing and the disposal of radioactive waste materials anywhere in Antarctica. This prohibition is one of the key provisions aimed at preserving the pristine environment of the continent. Statement 4 is correct: ●India became a consultative party to the Antarctic Treaty in 1983, signifying its active involvement in Antarctic scientific research and commitment to the principles outlined in the treaty. As a consultative party, India has voting rights and participates in decision-making processes related to Antarctic governance. |
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