After the Second World War the states in Antartica

arrived at an agreement to keep Antartica away from

the military developments. They agreed for declaring
it as a first nuclear free and dematerialized zone of
the world.
Fragile nature of environment and its delicate
ecological balance between different level of
organism with every short food chain
In Antartica water of three oceans meet,
Antartica, because of its strategic location,
affects the climate of a larger part of the
world.
I - International polar year 1882-83
II - International polar year 1932-33
III - International polar year 1957-58
(USA, USSR, Britain, New Zealand, Australia,
France, Norway, Argentina, Chile, Japan, Belgium
and South Africa)
In April 1958 the USA convened a conference to
discuss the future of Antartica and the USA proposed
to IGY participants that they should join in a treaty
designed to preserve the continents as “International
Laboratory” for scientific research and ensure that it
should be used only for peaceful purposes.
Goals of the Treaty
Demilitarization
Scientific cooperation
Environmental preservation

All nuclear explosions are prohibited and

radioactive waste material was banned to be
disposed off within the treaty area.
The Treaty has identified Antartica as the area
south of 60’s parallel, where Treaty provisions
are applicable.
 The Treaty has two tier structure . All the
decision making powers are given to the
consultative parties which are the original
members and such other members who have
after signing the Treaty demonstrated enough
interest in the Antartic research .
“ Special Conservation Area”
Prohibits killings, wounding, capturing or
molesting any native mammal or bird.
Introduction of non-indigenous species to
Antartica is prohibited.
The area is protected for reasons other than
fauna and flora so that Sites of Special
Scientific Interest are protected from harmful
interference .
 Articles of the Antarctic Treaty

Article 1 – area to be used for peaceful purposes only;

military activity, such as weapons testing is prohibited,
but military personnel and equipment may be used for
scientific research or any other peaceful purpose
Article 2 – freedom of scientific investigations and
cooperation shall continue
Article 3 – free exchange of information and personnel
in cooperation with the UN and other international
agencies
Article 4 – the treaty does not recognize,
dispute, nor establish territorial sovereignty
claims; no new claims shall be asserted while the
treaty is in force
Article 5 – prohibits nuclear explosions or
disposal of radioactive wastes
Article 6 – includes under the treaty all land and
ice shelves but not the surrounding waters south
of 60 degrees minutes south
Article 7 – observers have free access, including
aerial observation, to any area and may inspect
all stations, installations, and equipment;
advance notice of all activities and of the
introduction of military personnel must be given
Article 8 – allows for jurisdiction over observers
and scientists by their own states;
Article 9 – frequent consultative meetings take
place among member nations
Article 10 – discourage activities by any
country in Antarctica that are contrary to the
treaty
Article 11 – disputes to be settled peacefully
by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the
International Court of Justice.
Articles 12, 13, 14 – deal with upholding,
interpreting, and amending the treaty among
involved nations.
Biodiversity refers to variety of life on Earth .
It includes all ecosystems, species and genetic
resources. It is a combination of life forms and
their interactions with each other and with the
rest of the environment.
Biodiversity is threatened by factors
Habitat destruction and degradation
Pollution
Climate change
Introduced species
Loss of Biodiversity affects
Food supplies
Opportunities for tourism and recreation
Sources of medicines
Energy
Objective is to develop national strategies for
the conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity. It is often seen as the key
document regarding sustainable development
.
The Convention was opened for signature at
the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June
1992 and entered into force on 29 December
1993.
Goals
conservation of biological diversity
sustainable use of its components; and
fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising
from genetic resources
 Issues
Measures and incentives for the conservation and sustainable
use of biological diversity.
Regulated access to genetic resources
Sharing, in a fair and equitable way, the results of research and
development and the benefits arising from the commercial and
other utilization of genetic resources with the Contracting Party
providing such resources (governments and/or local
communities that provided the traditional knowledge or
biodiversity resources utilized).
Access to and transfer of technology, including
biotechnology , to the governments and/or local
communities that provided traditional knowledge
and/or biodiversity resources.
Technical and scientific cooperation.
Education and public awareness.
Provision of financial resources.
National reporting on efforts to implement treaty
commitments.
Cartagena protocol on Biosafety

Aims to protect biodiversity from the potential

risks posed by genetically modified organisms
resulting from modern biotechnology.
The Biosafety Protocol makes clear that products
from new technologies must be based on the
precautionary principle and allow developing nations
to balance public health against economic benefits. It
will for example let countries ban imports of a
genetically modified organism if they feel there is not
enough scientific evidence the product is safe and
requires exporters to label shipments containing
genetically altered commodities such as corn or
cotton.
Held at Geneva on 29th April 1958
Draws attention to the development of modern
techniques which exploits the living resources of the
sea.