Case Study → Antarctic Treaty System (Edexcel A-Level Geography): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
Case Study → Antarctic Treaty System
| Context | ● Antarctica has a special status following the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, to which 54 nations are now signatories ● No one owns Antarctica, although around 20 nations have permanent scientific bases there (seven of who previously made a formal territorial claim) ● The Antarctica lacks any Indigenous people ● International cooperation in managing Antarctica as a continent of peace and science is perhaps the best example of Successful IGO management of environmental issues |
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| The Antarctic treaty | ● Was a result of an international research programme in the Antarctica called the International Geophysical Year ● Originally only 12 nationals were involved in 1959 |
| Terms of the Antarctic Treaty | ● All military activity is banned in Antarctica ● Scientific cooperation is encouraged and countries should have the freedom to carry out scientific research in Antarctica ● Territorial claims made by different nations are not disputed provided that nations to not ↑ their claims or try to ↓ other nations' claims ● Planned expeditions to Antarctica need to be announced in advance |
| Successes | ● The number of countries that have signed have significantly increased ● There have been no territorial disputes ● No military activities have occurred ● Scientific research in Antarctica has been vital for recognising and tackling atmospheric environmental problems |
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Antarctic Treaty System*