09 June 2023

Press Release

For immediate release

International commitments made to enhance protection of the Antarctic in the face of the catastrophic climate crisis

Commitment comes as leaders met for the 45th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Helsinki, Finland, from May 29 to June 8
Indefinite ban on commercial mining in the region reconfirmed
Emperor Penguins, the iconic species found only in the Antarctic, face risk of extinction due to the loss of sea ice and rising global temperatures

International delegates have reaffirmed their commitments to enhance the protection of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and to take urgent action to combat the devastating effects of climate change.

Delegates from around the world gathered in Finland, for the 45th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting between May 29 and June 8 where they negotiated and agreed the Helsinki Declaration on Climate Change and the Antarctic.

Antarctica may feel remote, but it plays a critical role in the global climate system, including ocean circulation and climate, while the Southern Ocean is one of the planet’s largest carbon sinks.

So the implications of Antarctic change on the rest of the world are profound.

In the Helsinki Declaration, the Parties raised concerns about rising sea levels as a result of irreversible ice-sheet loss and the catastrophic impacts it will have, particularly on people living in low elevation coastal zones across the globe.

Delegates also reconfirmed their commitment to uphold an indefinite ban on commercial mining in Antarctica, including keeping fossil fuels in the ground, and to enhance protection of the unique wildlife of the region.

One of the species most at risk in the Antarctic is the emperor penguin. A study presented to delegates by an international group of scientists and supported by WWF demonstrated that over a five-year period (2018-2022), 42% of emperor penguin colonies (28 of the 66 colonies) likely experienced total or partial breeding failure due to the break-up of fast ice (sea ice which is connected to the land) in at least one year.

The study provides further evidence to Antarctic Treaty parties to support the future designation of emperor penguins as a Specially Protected Species under the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty.

Rod Downie, WWF’s Chief Adviser, Polar Regions, said:

“Climate change is already having a profound impact on the Antarctic, and this is only expected to get worse.

“Emperor penguins are especially vulnerable, with the predicted loss of suitable breeding habitat putting them on the slippery slope towards extinction.

“Urgent action to limit average global temperature rise to 1.5°C, to protect the waters surrounding Antarctica which are teeming with life, and to designate emperor penguins as Specially Protected Species is essential for both the continent and the planet.

“As glaciers retreat and sea levels rise, the effects of global warming will be felt far beyond the Antarctic itself.”

Emperor penguins are vulnerable to changes in seasonal sea ice extent. These iconic species require stable, ‘fast’ ice for about nine months of the year as a platform to mate, incubate their eggs, raise their chicks, and replace their feathers during the annual moult.

However, over the last seven years, sea ice extent and concentration around Antarctica have fallen significantly, dropping below 2 million km2 in 2022 and again in 2023 for the first time in the satellite record (since 1979). One consequence of sea ice loss is the early breakup of the fast ice on which the penguins breed, leading to chick mortality.

Only ambitious global climate policy combined with regional measures under the Antarctic Treaty to protect emperor penguin habitat and prevent disturbance can help to safeguard the future of these icons on ice – their fate rests in our hands.

ENDS

About the Antarctic Treaty:

The Antarctic Treaty came into force on 23 June 1961 after ratification by the twelve countries then active in Antarctic science. It has since been acceded to by many other nations. The total number of Parties to the Treaty is now 56. Its objectives are simple yet unique in international relations. Under the Antarctic Treaty System, several international agreements are in place to protect Antarctic wildlife.

In 2019, the UK, supported by a number of other countries, notified the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) that Emperor penguins were threatened through the loss of their breeding habitat and that further protections should be developed.

The 45th ATCM ran from 29 May until 8 June 2023 in Helsinki.