The Geopolitics of Antarctica ...

• Main Author: Saalbach, Klaus
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Universität Osnabrück 2024
• Subjects: Antarctica; South Pole; Geopolitics; Climate Change; Biodiversity; Biosecurity; 320 - Politik; 333.7 - Natürliche Ressourcen, Energie und Umwelt; 340 - Recht; Antarctic; Argentina; New Zealand; Norway; The Antarctic; Antarc*; South pole
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48693/494; https://osnadocs.ub.uni-osnabrueck.de/handle/ds-2024021610690

The paper analyzes the geopolitics of the Antarctic (South Pole) region which is dominated by strategies for the time after the end of the Antarctic Treaty in 2041. Antarctica with 13.2 million square kilometers and a landmass under the ice shield is protected as common heritage of mankind by the Antarctic Treaty from 1959 that came into force in 1961; the treaty is the legal framework and guarantees the free access and research rights for the international community. In 2023, the treaty had 56 parties; of these, 29 of them are Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties (ATCP) which currently maintain approximately 80 research stations in Antarctica. While the Antarctic Treaty is valid until 2041, there are also territorial claims from the days of the South Pole expeditions by Australia, New Zealand, France, Norway, Argentina, Chile, and United Kingdom. All claims are ‘frozen’ by the Antarctic Treaty until 2041, but the geopolitics is already looking forward to the time after. The Antarctic Treaty System ATS ...