Forty-sixth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting - Twenty-sixth Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection
Kochi, India
20 May 2024 - 30 May 2024
The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) and the 26th Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP 26) Meeting took place from 20 to 30 May 2024 in Kochi, Kerala, India. The meetings included 328 delegates who participated in person and another 76 virtual attendees. The ATCM encouraged efforts to increase the use of renewable energy, and to ensure robust implementation of biosecurity measures to minimise the risks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Parties also decided to develop a comprehensive and consistent framework for the regulation of Antarctic tourism and other non-governmental activities. Parties also discussed consultative status requests from Canada and Belarus, but did not reach consensus. During its meeting, from 20 to 24 May, the Committee for Environmental Protection agreed to prioritise further work on advancing guidance on cumulative impact assessment; the management implications of sea ice change; enhancing the environmental impact assessment process; protecting the emperor penguin; and developing an international framework for environmental monitoring in Antarctica. Following the advice of the CEP, the Parties adopted 17 revised and new management plans for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs), a new historic site commemorating the first visit to the Lake Untersee area, and updated information about other four historic sites.