Countries Meet to Strengthen Environmental Protection, Tackle Emergencies in Antarctica

摘要

Countries attending the 39th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Chile have promised to strengthen efforts to protect Antarctica and the seas that surround it from environmental emergencies. Antarctic Treaty parties, environmental experts and international observers met May 23-June 1 in Santiago to address Annex VI of the Madrid Protocol, which sets rules governing who is liable for preventing and dealing with environmental emergencies arising from scientific research, tourism and other activities in the Antarctic treaty area. In the Santiago Declaration, issued May 30, the member countries of the Antarctic Treaty pledged "to further strengthen their efforts to preserve and protect the Antarctic terrestrial and marine environments, bearing in mind the designation of Antarctica as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science."