Antarctic Treaty: Protecting the icy continent
The Forum
00:00
Introduction
Since 19 61, this unique wilderness has been administered by a small group of nations under the antarctic treaty. Remarkably, this international accord was negotiated at the height of the cold war. It suspended all claims to sovereignty over the continent and agreed to allow only peaceful scientific exploration. But six decades on from when it was first signed, the world is far more turbulent. Many nations are hungry for minerals. The appetite for new tourist destinations is growing. Change is threatening once protected environments. And geo political tensions are undermining international collaboration. So how far can theAntarctic treaty continue to keep the continent safe from exploitation in the 20 first century?
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