Towards ending plastic pollution in the Antarctic Treaty area
The Representatives,
Acknowledging that the majority of plastic pollution found in Antarctica originates from outside of Antarctica, while aware that human activities, including those in Antarctica, also contribute to plastic pollution;
Conscious of their responsibility to ensure comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems;
Recalling Articles 1, 2 and 6 of Annex III to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (“the Protocol”) on waste disposal and waste management and Articles 2 and 5 of Annex IV to the Protocol on marine pollution;
Noting with great concern the increasing levels of both macroplastic and microplastic pollution found in the Antarctic Treaty area;
Recalling Resolution 5 (2019) Reducing Plastic Pollution in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean;
Noting with appreciation the growing number of Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (“ATCM”) papers on preventing plastic pollution from all sources;
Noting the ongoing negotiations on an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution;
Recommend that their Governments:
1. continue implementing existing Resolutions on plastic pollution, as appropriate;
2. take all relevant measures, as appropriate, to prevent or reduce plastic pollution resulting from activities within their control in the Antarctic Treaty area;
3. share their experiences with addressing plastic pollution associated with human activities in the Antarctic Treaty area, such as through papers to the ATCM identifying best practice approaches;
4. strengthen scientific research and monitoring efforts to assess plastic pollution and its sources and impacts on the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems, taking into account relevant standards and comparative methodologies, as appropriate;
5. invite the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (“SCAR”) to periodically assess and synthesise existing knowledge and scientific data on plastic pollution in the Antarctic Treaty area, including on related risks to Antarctic species and communities, report its findings to the Committee for Environmental Protection and make its synthesis reports available to the public; and
6. engage actively in international discussions on plastic pollution in other relevant fora taking into account, as appropriate, the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems.
The Representatives,
Acknowledging that the majority of plastic pollution found in Antarctica originates from outside of Antarctica, while aware that human activities, including those in Antarctica, also contribute to plastic pollution;
Conscious of their responsibility to ensure comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems;
Recalling Articles 1, 2 and 6 of Annex III to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (“the Protocol”) on waste disposal and waste management and Articles 2 and 5 of Annex IV to the Protocol on marine pollution;
Noting with great concern the increasing levels of both macroplastic and microplastic pollution found in the Antarctic Treaty area;
Recalling Resolution 5 (2019) Reducing Plastic Pollution in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean;
Noting with appreciation the growing number of Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (“ATCM”) papers on preventing plastic pollution from all sources;
Noting the ongoing negotiations on an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution;
Recommend that their Governments:
1. continue implementing existing Resolutions on plastic pollution, as appropriate;
2. take all relevant measures, as appropriate, to prevent or reduce plastic pollution resulting from activities within their control in the Antarctic Treaty area;
3. share their experiences with addressing plastic pollution associated with human activities in the Antarctic Treaty area, such as through papers to the ATCM identifying best practice approaches;
4. strengthen scientific research and monitoring efforts to assess plastic pollution and its sources and impacts on the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems, taking into account relevant standards and comparative methodologies, as appropriate;
5. invite the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (“SCAR”) to periodically assess and synthesise existing knowledge and scientific data on plastic pollution in the Antarctic Treaty area, including on related risks to Antarctic species and communities, report its findings to the Committee for Environmental Protection and make its synthesis reports available to the public; and
6. engage actively in international discussions on plastic pollution in other relevant fora taking into account, as appropriate, the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems.
