South Africa and the decolonisation of the Antarctic Treaty System.

Abstract

Antarctica plays a pivotal role in global environmental health, influencing climate systems, weather patterns, ocean health, and biodiversity. As a key part of the planet’s environmental balance, its offers insight into global environmental dynamics and serves as an indicator of planetary health. However, it also contains vast mineral resources, the tempting exploitation of which, poses significant risks to the environmental health of both Antarctica and the planet. However, despite Antarctica’s global importance, the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) concentrates governance in the hands of a few countries excluding the vast majority of the world’s nations from all decision-making processes, which undermines its legitimacy and the effectiveness of its environmental protection measures. This lack of global inclusion, combined with the ATS’s inability to address growing challenges, leaves Antarctica extremely vulnerable. Without significant reform, the ATS lacks the authority and legitimacy to effectively protect Antarctica’s environmental future. However, drastic systemic change is unlikely to occur within the necessary time frame to prevent irreversible damage so urgent, internal, steps are needed to bolster its ability to confront these challenges in both the short and long term. The ATS is thus suffering a crisis of legitimacy. It remains exclusive and unrepresentative, is controlled by a small group of nations, some of which have territorial claims and governs a continent that belongs to all of humanity. This is undemocratic, exclusionary and elitist. To enhance its legitimacy the ATS needs to become more democratic and representative. To do this, it must broaden its membership, enhance participation, and be more inclusive of voices from underrepresented regions. South Africa, a founding member of the ATS, and the only African country in the ATS, is uniquely positioned to advocate for these changes. With its unique geopolitical perspective, South Africa can lead efforts to decolonise the ATS and make it more democratic and representative. By using the existing legal structures and encouraging broader membership, South Africa can help improve the ATS’s legitimacy, making it better equipped to protect Antarctica’s environment and better enable it to govern Antarctica in the long-term interest of all nations.