Madrid, 5 October 2021 (GNP/ TDI): On Monday, Spain convened an International Conference to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Madrid Protocol. During the conference, the State Parties including Chile and Argentina renewed their commitments to the values and principles of the Protocol.
The event provided a unique opportunity for the participants to analyze the environmental protection achievements of Antarctica in the last 30 years. Several representatives from across the world participated in the event, including Chile’s Foreign Minister Andrés Allamand, Sweden’s State Secretary to Minister for Environment and Climate Anders Mankler, Australia’s Environment Minister Sussan Ley, and representatives from Argentina, Brazil, China, Japan, Finland, and South Africa.
The luminaries reflected on the future challenges that Antarctica is facing, besides suggesting various conservative measures to tackle those problems. The high-level panels also brought together some experts and leading scientists to converge on climate change, natural resource management, and technological innovations.
The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, or the “Madrid Protocol” was signed on October 4, 1991, in Madrid that entered into force in 1998. It serves as an international environmental agreement, aiming to provide comprehensive protection to Antarctica, and transforming it into a peaceful, scientific reserve. The Madrid Protocol provides massive protections for the continent since several nations adopted it to ban mining in Antarctica and to protect the continent as a natural reserve.
International representatives virtually attending the Madrid Protocol’s 30th-anniversary commemoration.