Antarctica | Who oversees Antarctica? Why is Antarctica not a country?

Antarctica | Who oversees Antarctica? Why is Antarctica not a country? #IceWorld #NexaVista
Antarctica, Earth's southernmost continent, is a vast polar desert home to the geographic South Pole. It spans 14.2 million km², making it the fifth-largest continent. Dominated by a thick ice sheet, it holds 70% of the world's freshwater, which could raise sea levels by 60 meters if melted. Known for its extreme cold, dryness, and wind, it has the planet's highest average elevation. Despite its harsh conditions, it hosts unique wildlife like penguins and seals. First sighted in 1820, it’s now governed by the Antarctic Treaty System, prohibiting military activity and mining. Human activities are limited to research, tourism, and fishing, with climate change posing significant threats.
Antarctica belongs to no single country; it is governed by a coalition of nations under the Antarctic Treaty, signed on December 1, 1959. This treaty designates the continent for peaceful and scientific purposes only. Now joined by 54 nations, the treaty stands as a remarkable example of international cooperation and diplomacy. This unique agreement ensures Antarctica remains a shared space for all humanity, dedicated to research and preserving its pristine environment.
Shortly after humans first sighted Antarctica in 1820, nations started staking claims to various parts of the continent. By 1959, seven nations-Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom-had drawn boundaries around their proposed territories, dividing Antarctica like a pie chart. Although no country owns Antarctica, Australia holds the largest claim, covering 42% of the continent, which is about six million square kilometers.
Each nation had different reasons for their claims, such as early exploration efforts, continuous presence, geographical proximity, or geological connections. These unilateral claims led to significant tension, as many countries, including the USA and USSR, refused to recognize them. Overlapping claims by Argentina, Chile, and Great Britain on the Antarctic Peninsula further fueled disputes.
The Antarctic Treaty aims to foster international scientific cooperation, mitigate territorial disputes, and prohibit military activities, dedicating the continent to peace and research. It promotes a culture of trust and transparency, allowing nations to inspect any research station at any time. The Treaty freezes territorial claims, preventing any nation from strengthening or making new claims while it is in force. Over time, the Treaty has evolved to include environmental protection agreements such as the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS), the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid Protocol), and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
Antarctica is governed by an international coalition of 54 nations under the Antarctic Treaty. These nations are categorized into two groups. The first group, known as Consultative Parties, includes 29 countries that actively conduct scientific research in Antarctica. This engagement grants them the right to participate in Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs) and partake in the consensus-based decision-making process. The second group, called Non-Consultative Parties, consists of 25 countries that have signed the Antarctic Treaty but do not have active research programs in the region. Although they can attend ATCMs and participate in discussions, they do not possess decision-making powers.
Antarctic Treaty nations convene annually at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs) to discuss and manage human activities in Antarctica. Initially, from 1961 to 1994, these meetings occurred biennially, but they have been held every year since 1994. During ATCMs, all member nations participate in discussions, and decisions are made by consensus among the 29 consultative parties, requiring unanimous agreement for any changes.
Since 2003, the Antarctic Treaty has had a permanent administrative presence with the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Secretariat supports the Antarctic Treaty System year-round by providing administrative assistance for the ATCMs, facilitating information exchange among member nations, maintaining meeting records, and publishing the annual ATCM report.
Additionally, other international bodies like the International Maritime Organisation and the International Whaling Commission contribute to the governance of Antarctica.
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