Environmental Guidelines for operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Antarctica
The Representatives,
Recalling Article 3 of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (“the Protocol”), which requires that activities in the Antarctic Treaty area shall be planned and conducted so as to limit adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems;
Recognising that increasing use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (“RPAS”) is being made in the Antarctic Treaty area and that the technology offers many benefits, including for science and operations, and also has the potential to reduce environmental impacts in some circumstances;
Recognising also that RPAS have the potential to cause environmental impacts, and that there is benefit to adopting best practice environmental guidelines for RPAS based on the precautionary principle in order to help minimize those impacts and to assist users in meeting their obligations under the Protocol;
Welcoming the development through broad consultation amongst members and the science community, including with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (“SCAR”) and the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (“COMNAP”), of the Environmental Guidelines for operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Antarctica (“Environmental Guidelines for operation of RPAS”) that Parties can apply and use, as appropriate;
Recommend that their Governments:
1. endorse the non-mandatory Environmental Guidelines for operation of RPAS, annexed to this Resolution, as representing current environmental best practice for planning and undertaking RPAS activities, as appropriate, in Antarctica;
2. consider when appropriate the Environmental Guidelines for operation of RPAS during the environmental impact assessment process for RPAS activities within Antarctica;
3. encourage all those authorised to use RPAS to plan and undertake RPAS activites to abide, to the best of their ability by the Environmental Guidelines for operation of RPAS;
4. encourage SCAR and the scientific community to develop research on the environmental impacts of RPAS in order to reduce current uncertainties; and
5. encourage the Committee for Environmental Protection to continue to develop these guidelines as both the technology and scientific understanding of the potential impacts of RPAS are advanced.
The Representatives,
Recalling Article 3 of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (“the Protocol”), which requires that activities in the Antarctic Treaty area shall be planned and conducted so as to limit adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems;
Recognising that increasing use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (“RPAS”) is being made in the Antarctic Treaty area and that the technology offers many benefits, including for science and operations, and also has the potential to reduce environmental impacts in some circumstances;
Recognising also that RPAS have the potential to cause environmental impacts, and that there is benefit to adopting best practice environmental guidelines for RPAS based on the precautionary principle in order to help minimize those impacts and to assist users in meeting their obligations under the Protocol;
Welcoming the development through broad consultation amongst members and the science community, including with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (“SCAR”) and the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (“COMNAP”), of the Environmental Guidelines for operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Antarctica (“Environmental Guidelines for operation of RPAS”) that Parties can apply and use, as appropriate;
Recommend that their Governments:
1. endorse the non-mandatory Environmental Guidelines for operation of RPAS, annexed to this Resolution, as representing current environmental best practice for planning and undertaking RPAS activities, as appropriate, in Antarctica;
2. consider when appropriate the Environmental Guidelines for operation of RPAS during the environmental impact assessment process for RPAS activities within Antarctica;
3. encourage all those authorised to use RPAS to plan and undertake RPAS activites to abide, to the best of their ability by the Environmental Guidelines for operation of RPAS;
4. encourage SCAR and the scientific community to develop research on the environmental impacts of RPAS in order to reduce current uncertainties; and
5. encourage the Committee for Environmental Protection to continue to develop these guidelines as both the technology and scientific understanding of the potential impacts of RPAS are advanced.
