New Delhi: The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, through the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), will host the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) and the 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP 26) from May 20 to 30, 2024, in Kochi, Kerala, a PIB press release stated.
This is in line with India’s commitment to protecting the fragile ecosystem of Antarctica and promoting scientific research in the region.
The government expects that the ATCM and CEP meetings will provide a platform to discuss the ongoing challenges faced by Antarctica and promote cooperation in environmental protection and research. The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 and entered into force in 1961, establishes Antarctica as a region dedicated to peaceful purposes, scientific cooperation, and environmental protection. The Treaty has received widespread support from over 56 countries currently party to it.
The CEP was established under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol) in 1991, with the goal of advising the ATCM on environmental protection and conservation in Antarctica. India has been a Consultative Party to the Antarctic Treaty since 1983. As a member of the Consultative Party, India has taken an active interest in the activities of the Treaty.
This includes participating in the decision-making process along with other 28 Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty to date. India currently has two year-round research stations – Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2012) – that facilitate Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica. The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) and the 26th meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP 26) will be held in Kochi, Kerala on May 20-30, 2024.