Antarctica at the Crossroads: Environment, Security, and Multilateral Cooperation

Sixty-five years ago, the Antarctic Treaty established a multilateral governance system for the region, designating the continent as a scientific preserve dedicated to peace and prohibiting military activity. Since then, our understanding of Antarctica’s critical role in regulating the planet’s health has deepened. Simultaneously, events in recent years have shown that Antarctica is not immune to challenges of geopolitical competition, which can shape national priorities and constrain collective progress on environmental goals. As the impacts of climate change intensify, so too does the imperative for strong international cooperation to safeguard Antarctica’s environment. The continent sits at the intersection of environment, geopolitics, and multilateral cooperation, and a holistic perspective on its current and future needs can help advance broader national and global security objectives. Following the October meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Resources (CCAMLR), this event will examine the most pressing environmental issues facing Antarctica and consider how national governments and the international community can work together to address them in the years ahead.