The Hollowing of Antarctic Governance

Hemmings, Alan D.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-57765-4_2

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Current analysis of the ATS and its capacity to meld historic values and policies with constantly shifting environmental, political, and commercial forces delivers a mixed picture. Hemmings (2018), an Antarctic governance specialist, suggests the ATS has not kept up with various demands, pressures, policies, and activities, and he is concerned that environmental change could contribute to the destabilisation of an already inconsistent and hollowed-out ATS. Stephens (2018), an international lawyer, questions what the ATS should do in response to the Anthropocene.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reframing Antarctica’s ice loss: impacts of cryospheric change on local human activity

et al. 2021

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Physical scientists, social scientists, humanities scholars, and journalists have all framed Antarctica as a place of global importance—as a laboratory for scientific research, as a strategic site for geopolitical agendas, and more recently as a source of melting ice that could catastrophically inundate populations worldwide. Yet, the changing cryosphere impacts society within Antarctica as well, and this article expands the focus of Antarctic ice research to include human activities on and around the continent. It reframes Antarctica as a place with human history and local activities that are being affected by melting ice, even if the consequences are much smaller in scale than the effects of global sea level rise. Specifically focused on tourism and conservation along the west Antarctica Peninsula (wAP), this article demonstrates the impacts of changing glaciers and sea ice on the timing, location, and type of tourism as well as the ability of changing ice to mediate human experiences through conservation agendas. As future ice conditions influence Antarctic tourism and conservation, an attention to issues emerging within the wAP region offers a new perspective on climate change impacts and the management of Antarctic activities in the 21st-century Anthropocene.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reframing Antarctica’s ice loss: impacts of cryospheric change on local human activity

et al. 2021

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“…Issues of power, geopolitics, and sovereignty have seen the ATS referred to as “hollowing” over time [ 16 ]. MPAs provide an excellent case study for examining these fundamental issues, while simultaneously providing a mechanism to address them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While Article IX of the AT sets out a mandate for parties to adopt measures 5 in furtherance of the principles and objectives of the Treaty, including the “preservation and conservation of living resources in Antarctica”, the emergent issues proved too challenging to be managed by mere measures, hence the early expansion of the regime. In a ‘growth-by-accretion’ model, it was agreed that no successive instrument would undermine those before it, naturally increasing internal complexities throughout the system's evolution [ 16 ]. The annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM) now sit at the heart of the ATS and through consensus-based negotiations, the system has matured into the governance framework we see today.…”

Section: Marine Protection Under the Antarctic Treaty Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean: Is the Antarctic Treaty System ready to co-exist with a new United Nations instrument for areas beyond national jurisdiction?

Gardiner

2020

Marine Policy

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Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a fundamental tool for effective marine conservation and areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) prove most challenging for their designation. Largely to blame is the currently fragmented and sector-based governance framework under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982). In the face of rapidly deteriorating biodiversity in ABNJ, negotiations are underway for a new international legally binding instrument (ILBI) mandated to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction using tools including MPAs. The Southern Ocean, however, is a uniquely governed space, with two MPAs already established in ABNJ under the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). This article critically examines the status quo for designating MPAs under the ATS and uses the findings to reflect on how the system might interact with the new United Nations ILBI. Despite this critique, complementary synergies between the two instruments are still possible. I therefore hypothesise that Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties (ATCPs) and members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) must collectively engage with the ILBI process and across instruments within the ATS, to ensure the future interplay is one of opportunity, not conflict. The article concludes with recommendations to help ATCPs and CCAMLR members more proactively and effectively engage with progressions in the international law of the sea.

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“…The ATS has many strengths, not least its formal persistence over seven decades. However, it is arguable that it has always suffered from a structural hollowness; and that this has worsened in the three decades since the adoption of its last major instrument ( Hemmings, 2018b ). If these are valid concerns, then one might consider what effect COVID-19 may have on its shape and vitality.…”

Section: Long Term (May 2024 To April 2030)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Coronavirus at the end of the world: Antarctica matters

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Hemmings

2020

Social Sciences & Humanities Open

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The potential impact of coronavirus in Antarctica through tourism and scientific research as well as the Antarctic Treaty System is reviewed over three time periods. In the short term, to April 2021, Antarctic tourism and field-based research will be severely reduced. The impact on Antarctic governance means that few, if any, international meetings will take place thereby leaving discussions on issues, such as fishing quotas, uncertain. Looking to the medium term, to April 2024, polar tourism is unlikely to have recovered and may face collapse unless alternatives are developed. Scientific research, organised through National Antarctic Programs could be reduced due to the economics of a global recession. Moving to a long-term view of six years or so, in terms of scientific activity, this will be highly dependent on the role and status of science in society following the pandemic and the extent to which science funding gets drawn into the economics of the recession. It is unlikely that cruise tourism will have regained its previous volumes though fishing, especially if food security becomes a major issue, is likely to increase pressure on environmental management mechanisms. Both these aspects will continue to put demands on the Antarctic Treaty System and its ability to respond to a fast changing global situation. In this latter sense, it could provide valuable lessons, and also learn from, for other global agreements such as climate change and biodiversity.

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The Hollowing of Antarctic Governance

Cited by 7 publications

References 14 publications

Reframing Antarctica’s ice loss: impacts of cryospheric change on local human activity

Reframing Antarctica’s ice loss: impacts of cryospheric change on local human activity

Marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean: Is the Antarctic Treaty System ready to co-exist with a new United Nations instrument for areas beyond national jurisdiction?

Coronavirus at the end of the world: Antarctica matters

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