Yesterday, 1 December, Antarctica Day was celebrated, commemorating the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. To mark the occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Climate, the Estonian Academy of Sciences and the Estonian Polar Club are organised a joint seminar, “Polar Science, Environment and Politics”.
The seminar focused on scientific, environmental and security issues relating to the Antarctic continent. Particular attention was given to the fundamental principles of the Antarctic Treaty, which help to safeguard peace, scientific research and environmental protection. The event also discussed Estonia’s role within the complex geopolitical landscape of the polar regions.
At the heart of the Antarctic Treaty lies the Madrid Protocol, which was signed in 1991 and entered into force in 1998, and establishes strict environmental requirements in addition to the treaty’s core aims. Estonia has been a non-consultative member of the Antarctic Treaty since 2001, but has not yet acceded to the Madrid Protocol. “The area covered by the Antarctic Treaty includes nearly ten per cent of the world’s oceans and countless unique species adapted to extreme environments. The health of Antarctica determines the health of the rest of the world’s oceans. As a non-consultative member we currently have no voting rights in Antarctica, but joining the Environmental Protection Committee established under the Madrid Protocol would give Estonia the opportunity to contribute to protecting this invaluable common heritage,” said Antarctic Treaty expert and Estonia’s contact within the Antarctic Treaty system, Kati Lindström.
“Antarctica’s isolation and rich natural resources have made the continent strategically important amid growing competition between major powers,” emphasised Toomas Lukk, Arctic Special Envoy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Estonia, although a party to the Antarctic Treaty without consultative status, is nonetheless a consistent advocate of a peaceful, rules-based international order and must participate actively in discussions concerning Antarctica. Our task is to defend the core values of the Treaty – to promote scientific and climate cooperation, to avoid tensions and to uphold the principles of international law.”
The Arctic and Antarctic are the least studied regions of our planet, yet they directly influence the Earth’s climate, weather and ocean circulation, including the conditions affecting the Baltic Sea region. Even by conservative estimates, sea-level rise resulting from the melting of the polar regions threatens 800 million people worldwide. “Estonia has a long history of polar research, and Estonian scientists continue to contribute to Arctic and Antarctic studies as part of international polar expeditions and research projects. Geopolitical tensions make cooperation difficult with countries where relations are politically strained, yet they also open new opportunities for deeper scientific partnerships with nations that share similar values,” said Academy member Maarja Kruusmaa, Chair of the Polar Research Committee of the Estonian Academy of Sciences.
The seminar “Polar Science, Environment and Politics”, dedicated to Antarctica Day, can be re-watched here.
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