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Lessons Learned from the Antarctic Treaty System: Can We Apply Them to the Arctic?

Summary

This paper examines the concept of sovereignty, claims on territory and waters in the two polar regions, and discusses whether the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) offers a model for newly unfolding Arctic border issues and ultimately an international Arctic regime similar to that of Antarctica.Following the Cold War, both regions remain stable and peaceful with considerable institutionalized global cooperation. Climate change precipitates physical change and contributes to Arctic vulnerability thus reinforcing the interdependence between the Arctic and the rest of the globe. Interdependence demonstrates the decreased importance of national borders. Conversely, since the Arctic icecap is melting, climate change becomes a security threat that endangers both environmental and human security of northern communities.The Antarctic Treaty System, and the fact that it has worked well since it entered into force in 1961, is referred to as a model for the creation of an international treaty for the Arctic region. Yet, can we apply this process to the Arctic? Is an international Arctic Treaty System possible given the close proximity of several states that not only want to preserve their own territorial security, but also enlarge their control by expanding their own continental shelf? Our findings lead us to conclude that some functional aspects of the Antarctic Treaty System such as Specially Protected Areas (SPAs) and Specially Managed Areas (SMAs) offer useful application to the Arctic and can be incorporated into an existing Arctic framework, one that includes the Arctic Council and even the UN Convention on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

Related Document

Speakers

Ms. Helen Campbell SCADM Deputy Chief Officer, United Kingdom
Alan Cooper U.S. Geological Survey
Peter Barrett Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University, New Zealand
Robert DeConto Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts
Robert Dunbar Environmental Earth Systems Science, Stanford University
Carlota Escutia Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT), Spain
Dr. Martin Seigert Head of the School of GeoSciences
Nigel Wardell Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, Italy
Jon Childs U.S. Geological Survey
John Hocevar Oceans Director
Allison Kole Campaigns Assistant, Science and the Governance of International Commons
Igor Krupnik Smithsonian Institution
Mr. Michael Lang Director, Smithsonian Marine Science Network; Director, Smithsonian Scientific Diving program; Office of the Under Secretary for Science, Smithsonian Institution, United States
Scott E. Miller Smithsonian Institution
Mr. Michael Lang Director, Smithsonian Marine Science Network; Director, Smithsonian Scientific Diving program; Office of the Under Secretary for Science, Smithsonian Institution, United States
Martin Sayer NERC Facility for Scientific Diving, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, United Kingdom
Rafael Lemaitre Smithsonian Institution
Valery Lukin Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Russian Antarctic Expedition
Robert A. McCabe
Anita Dey Nuttall Canadian Circumpolar Institute, University of Alberta
Frank Rack ANDRILL Science Management Office, University of Nebraska Lincoln
Laura De Santis Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale GS, Italy
Richard Levy GNS Science, New Zealand
Tim Naish Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Robert DeConto Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts
Carlota Escutia Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT), Spain
Tina Tin Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC)
Rupert Summerson Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne, Australia
Professor David Walton Professor Emeritus, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Julie A Hambrook Berkman Foundation for the Good Governance of International Spaces
Dr. Michele Zebich-Knos Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA

Schedule

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