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Research | Polar research | Antarctic Treaty
Antarctic treaty
The Antarctic Treaty was signed in the circumstances of the International Geophysical year 1959, and it stated that the continent should be used only for peaceful purposes. The three main purposes of the treaty are the demilitarization of Antarctica, the regulation of scientific activities and freedom of research, and the freezing of sovereignty claims. Military activities, the testing of nuclear weapons and the disposal of radioactive waste were also prohibited in Antarctica. The parties of the treaty have confirmed to protect the unique environment of Antarctica.
Photo: FINNARP
International co-operation was furthered with agreeing on the exchange of research program plans, results and personnel. The original signing states were the USA, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, South Africa, Great Britain, Japan, Norway, France, Russia and New Zealand. Some of the states had also territorial claims in Antarctica that were frozen by the treaty.
The treaty concerns the areas south of latitude 60 °S, and there are nowadays over 40 signatory countries. Of these decision-making 26 are so-called consultative parties which have the right to participate in concerning Antarctica. Finland became a member of the treaty in 1984 and became a consultative party in 1989.
The Antarctic Treaty System functions beside the actual treaty. Within this system the parties of the treaty decide about national recommendations concerning activities in Antarctica.
In addition to the Antarctic Treaty states have created special agreements and protocols such as the Protocol of Environmental Protection signed in Madrid in 1991.
By joining the Antarctic Treaty Finland officially expressed its interest in Antarctic matters and its support for the objectives of the treaty. Finland also joined the conventions for the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources and for the regulation of mineral resource activities. The membership has made it possible for Finland to participate in the international discussion concerning the Antarctic Treaty as well as its present state and its future.
The consultative membership demands from Finland considerable scientific research activity in Antarctica. The aim of Finland is to practice Antarctic research primarily in scientifically outstanding and topical fields in which Finland has high-quality know-how and in which the research is also adequately connected to issues and research pertaining to the Nordic countries. An international evaluation of Finnish Antarctic Activity ordered by The Ministry of Trade and Industry verifies that scientific research nowadays is and will remain in the future as well the precondition of Finland's presence in Antarctica.
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