25 anniversary of the conclusion of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
04.10.2016 / 09:52 | Aktualizováno: 04.10.2016 / 10:10
On October 4, 2016 we commemorate 25 years since the conclusion of an international agreement on the environmental protection of a unique continent – Antarctica. The Czech Republic acceded to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty in 2004. Czech citizens – and also foreigners participating in an expedition to Antarctica, which is organized in the Czech Republic – are obliged to respect rules on environmental protection of Antarctica, which are set forth in the Act on Antarctica, effective since 2005.
In 1991, the States with tradition of polar activities decided to conclude the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the existing Antarctic Treaty. The Protocol binds its Contracting Parties to comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and designates this continent as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science. The Protocol prohibits any activity relating to mineral resources, other than scientific research. The aim of Act on Antarctica (No. 276/2003 Sb.) is to comply with these and other international obligations relating to Antarctica.
On the occasion of this yearʾs anniversary of the Protocol, the States adopted at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting the so-called Santiago declaration, in which they reaffirmed their commitment to the objectives and purposes of the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol, and to the protection of the Antarctic environment. In this connection the Resolution 6 (2016) was adopted, in which the Contracting Parties to the Protocol reaffirmed their commitment to continue to implement the prohibition on any activity relating to mineral resources, other than scientific research.
Czech scientists carry out activities in Antarctica. The Czech scientific research is foremost carried out at the Czech research polar station Johann Gregor Mendel on the James Ross Island.