Ethics of Observation in the Polar Regions

• Published in: The Yearbook of Polar Law Online
• Main Author: Carleton, Alexandra L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Brill 2020
• Subjects: Antarctic; Endeavour; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Yearbook of Polar Law
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/22116427_012010024; https://brill.com/view/journals/yplo/12/1/article-p415_24.xml; https://brill.com/downloadpdf/journals/yplo/12/1/article-p415_24.xml

Whilst satellite observations over the Polar Regions yield vastly beneficial scientific knowledge, ethical questions complicate their use in the context of the Polar Regions, in particular, questions about military or strategic advantage vis-a-vis human security concerns. The Antarctic Treaty System is committed to use of its space for peaceful purposes which, in the fulfilment of high-level science, seems plausible. Yet where military endeavour is coupled with such scientific endeavour, or where global security concerns seek an entree to the knowledge acquired by such observation, the question of whether either Pole can remain free from human non-peaceful purpose is bedevilling.