WHO OWNS ANTARCTICA? THE POLITICS OF THE FROZEN CONTINENT
Many countries have claimed sovereignty over the years, and their natural resources have been exploited. The 43rd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held on May 24, is a meeting of states cooperating on the sovereignty of the frozen continent and its environmental protection.
Antarctica is a region of the planet that is unlike any other in many ways (geological, geographical, political…). In addition to being the world’s southernmost continent, it is also the highest, driest, windiest, coldest, and iciest continent, and the only one without a native population. Antarctica is 14.2 million square kilometers in size, with thick ice covering nearly 98 percent of the land. As a result, it has a very specific biodiversity and is difficult for humans to colonize.
Their discovery was not made by a single person. Although there were several reconnaissance navigations in its surroundings in the 18th century, it was Roald Amundsen’s historic expedition on December 14, 1911 that marked a turning point in the conquest of this region of the planet. Whale and seal hunting was the main economic activity in the Antarctic regions from the late 18th century to the 1930s. Whaling and seal hunting came to an end after hunting decimated their populations and demand for their products fell. Scientific exploration revealed that, while mineral wealth exists in Antarctica, the conditions for profitable extraction do not, and, as a result, scientific activities have gradually become the primary political and economic activity in Antarctica.
Fortunately, advances in scientific knowledge and environmental awareness, as well as a climate of international cooperation among states, resulted in the drafting and signing (by more than 50 countries) of the Antarctica Treaty, which entered into force in 1961.
Juan Manuel Faramián is a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague and a professor of Public International Law and International Relations at the University of Jaén. “It is critical to maintain the criterion that Antarctica will only be used for peaceful purposes; any maneuver, military test, or use of atomic and nonatomic weapons in this region of the planet is prohibited.”
Sovereignty of the Antarctic
Faramián explains that many states have historically claimed sovereignty over Antarctica: “Now these demands have been ‘frozen’ because a criterion of cooperation has been established thanks to the Antarctic Treaty.”
During the 1940s, neighboring countries such as Chile and Argentina were the first to claim Antarctica. Indeed, prior to the treaty’s signing, various proposals to limit its sovereignty were made, as Faramián explains: “There is the Sector Theory, which designs an imaginary triangle with the South Pole as its epicenter.”
Another proposal developed by Pinochet de la Barra is the Theory of the Quadrants, which is based on geographical criteria: the South American quadrant, the Pacific quadrant, the Australian quadrant, and the African quadrant. France and Norway, for their part, speak of the theory of discovery or symbolic occupation.”
To avoid debate over who should have sovereignty over these lands, the signing of the treaty established a system of international cooperation. “Consultative status is also established -hence the meetings held every two years- and all member states say they agree to talk about the interest of humanity and the freedom of scientific research on the continent, guaranteeing the peaceful uses of it,” the expert explains. The Antarctic Treaty is essentially a legal tool for establishing peaceful coexistence among states.
Although Antarctica is the only continent in the world without a native population, as we mentioned in the article, there are many bases in various countries, some of which are permanent and others are temporary. “Among the established bases, in principle, the countries deny the military aims,” Faramián says.
Concerns for the Antarctic Continent in 2021
Once the treaty’s objective has been defined and the Member States’ commitment to comply with it has been established, we should focus on the goal of the consultative meetings that take place every two years, the 43rd edition of which was just held in Paris via electronic means.
The main focus of these meetings is no longer so much on the sovereignty of Antarctica as it is on its conservation and biodiversity protection, as well as the establishment of rules for the conduct of activities such as scientific research or tourism.
“In addition to the deterioration of the continent caused by climate change, the problem of plankton is of great concern,” Juan Manuel Faramián explains. “Plankton is food for whales, and there has been an excessive collection in recent decades, implying a subsistence problem for these cetaceans.”
Scientific investigation in Antarctica
Antarctica is a natural reserve, and its sovereignty is shared by all of humanity, which is dedicated to its preservation and peaceful use. Furthermore, as previously stated, freedom of scientific research is permitted. In fact, Antarctica is a prime location for certain scientific endeavors.
The Antarctic Transient Impulse Antenna (ANITA), for example, is a balloon-shaped instrument that flies over Antarctica at a height of 40 kilometers and is capable of detecting ultra-high-energy neutrinos that are picked up via the ice via a ‘indirect’. Because of Antarctica’s unique characteristics, which include a complete lack of other types of interference, cosmic particles interact with ice, and it is this rebound that allows their detection.
Another example is Homeward Bound, an Australian project that aims to increase the visibility of female scientists in the context of climate change and the degradation of the Antarctic ecosystem.
