Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment: A Decadal Synopsis and Recommendations for Action report

The Representatives,

Recalling the Washington Ministerial Declaration on the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty, in which Ministers from all Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties noted their concern about the implications of global environmental change, in particular climate change, for the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems and confirmed their intention to work together to better understand changes to the Earth’s climate and to actively seek ways to address the effects of climate and environmental change on the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems;

Recalling also the importance of the Committee for Environmental Protection’s (“CEP”) Climate Change Response Work Programme and its vision of preparing for, and building resilience to, the environmental impacts of a changing climate;

Welcoming that the Decadal Synopsis Report on Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment (“Decadal Synopsis”) by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (“SCAR”) draws on the best available science representing current understanding of and projections for climate change and its impacts in the Antarctic;

Welcoming also SCAR’s advice that urgent action is required to prevent irreversible changes to Antarctica and consequential implications for the planet;

Concerned by the effects and projected changes to Antarctic environments resulting from climate change outlined in the Decadal Synopsis;

Recalling Resolution 8 (2021) on climate change response and remaining committed to seeking ways to address the effects of climate and environmental change on the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems;

Determined to address the policy and research recommendations of the report;

Recommend that their Governments:

1. ensure that their respective departments and agencies charged with climate change negotiations receive copies of the Decadal Synopsis and have an opportunity to be fully briefed and fully consider its findings and recommendations for action;

2. ensure that national Antarctic science and research bodies and funding agencies receive copies of the Decadal Synopsis and have an opportunity to be fully briefed and fully consider its findings and recommendations for action;

3. encourage dissemination of the findings of the Decadal Synopsis and of ongoing Antarctic climate change research to the general public and the media; and

4. continue to welcome updates by SCAR on Antarctic climate change and its implications.