The role of Antarctica in global climate processes
The Representatives,
Noting that Antarctica plays a crucial role in the global climate system, as a key driver of global circulation in the atmosphere and ocean, and as a significant control on global sea level;
Recognising that scientific study of Antarctica is crucial to further inform understanding of global climate processes and their consequential impacts on the entire Earth system;
Conscious that climatic changes within Antarctica are resulting in considerable regional changes across the continent and that some of these changes have the potential to impact human activities within Antarctica;
Welcoming the ongoing work of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (“SCAR”) on its Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment initiative, and the submission of annual updates to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting about the effects of climate change on Antarctica itself;
Desiring to ensure that the international science community continues to focus its effort and collaborate effectively in the study of climate change processes within Antarctica;
Recommend that their Governments:
1. encourage their national Antarctic programmes to work with SCAR to consider how best to promote international Antarctic climate change research, including to support the objective of the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is due to be held in Paris in December 2015; and
2. support their national Antarctic programmes to lead collaborative and ambitious international scientific programmes to underpin improved understanding of the impact of climatic changes on the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems.
The Representatives,
Noting that Antarctica plays a crucial role in the global climate system, as a key driver of global circulation in the atmosphere and ocean, and as a significant control on global sea level;
Recognising that scientific study of Antarctica is crucial to further inform understanding of global climate processes and their consequential impacts on the entire Earth system;
Conscious that climatic changes within Antarctica are resulting in considerable regional changes across the continent and that some of these changes have the potential to impact human activities within Antarctica;
Welcoming the ongoing work of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (“SCAR”) on its Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment initiative, and the submission of annual updates to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting about the effects of climate change on Antarctica itself;
Desiring to ensure that the international science community continues to focus its effort and collaborate effectively in the study of climate change processes within Antarctica;
Recommend that their Governments:
1. encourage their national Antarctic programmes to work with SCAR to consider how best to promote international Antarctic climate change research, including to support the objective of the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is due to be held in Paris in December 2015; and
2. support their national Antarctic programmes to lead collaborative and ambitious international scientific programmes to underpin improved understanding of the impact of climatic changes on the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems.
