Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly 2 - 3 December 2019

Peter Geraerts Photography

www.antarcticparliamentarians.com www.antarcticparliamentarians.com Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly 2 - 3 December 2019

The All-Party Parliamentary The Assembly will highlight the importance Letter from the Chairman of to the understanding of our Group for the Polar Regions planet, and provide an opportunity to UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions welcomes you to London discuss how Parliamentarians can initiate and support international collaboration I am delighted to welcome I am also delighted to welcome a group of for the very first Antarctic to help protect this vast and fragile you all to the first ever observers from the wider polar community here environment. Parliamentarians Assembly Antarctic Parliamentarians in London. If the Parliamentary Group for the on 2 - 3 December 2019. The Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly Assembly. The Arctic Polar Regions acts as a focus for the wider polar is organised and hosted by the All-Party Council has its parliamentary community in the UK, it will be fulfilling at least Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions, shadow, but the parliaments part of its remit. of the signatories to Parliamentarians have been invited from the with funding from the Mamont Foundation So I wish you well in your deliberations at this the Antarctic Treaty have no formal way of 54 signatories to the Antarctic Treaty to and in-kind support from the UK Foreign Parliamentary Assembly. I hope that collectively scrutinising and supporting the work of the celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the signing & Commonwealth Office and the British we will agree on crucial Antarctic issues, and Antarctic Treaty System. of the Treaty and discuss the future of the ‘White Antarctic Survey, and advice from the that by doing so, we may have some influence Continent’. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. It is my fervent hope, therefore, that this will over our governments. We hope then to be able be the first of a series of bi-annual assemblies, to play our own small part in protecting the bringing together parliamentarians from around White Continent that we love so much. the globe who have a special interest in, and James Gray VENUES concern for, Antarctica. I hope that the Assembly Statement, which we will formally agree, will be a Chairman, UK All-Party Parliamentary beacon of clarity to all of those concerned about Group for the Polar Regions the great and urgent issues facing the continent, such as ensuring universal adherence to the Treaty, combating , preserving biodiversity, to name a few of the topics that will be discussed over the next two days. Conference venue, SixtyOne Whitehall Dinner at Armoury House, City of London

SixtyOne Whitehall (RUSI) Armoury House Royal United Services Institute, SixtyOne Honourable Artillery Company, Armoury House, Letter from Sir David Attenborough Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET City Road, London, EC1Y 2BQ British broadcaster, naturalist and conservationist, creator of BBC TV series Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and Seven Worlds, One Planet.

I am so sorry that my filming The challenges we face in Antarctica and the schedule has prevented me are both alarming and urgent, ENTRANCE from attending this first ever and I call on your parliaments and governments ENTRANCE Antarctic Parliamentarians to work together within the Antarctic Treaty Assembly. It is a very System - which has celebrated its 60th worthwhile initiative and anniversary - to act decisively and collectively I hope both that your for the preservation of the continent. deliberations over the next two days will Closest train Closest tube Closest train Closest tube Closest car produce results which will help preserve and station: stations: station: stations: park: enhance the great White Continent, and that Charing Westminster or Liverpool Moorgate or NCP Finsbury this Assembly may become a regular event. Sir David Attenborough Cross Embankment Street Old Street Square (5-10 min walk) (5-10 min walk) (10-15 min walk) (5 min walk) (3-4 min walk)

www.antarcticparliamentarians.com PROGRAMME

Monday 2 December Tuesday 3 December 08.30 Conference registration opens 08.30 Conference opens Opening Address from James Gray, Chairman, UK All-Party Parliamentary Group Welcome - James Gray, Chairman, UK All-Party Parliamentary 09.30 - 09.40 09.30 - 09.35 for the Polar Regions Group for the Polar Regions Keynote: Celebrating 60 Years of the Antarctic Treaty System - Lord Ahmad, UK Parliamentarians’ discussion and debate on Conference Statement 09.40 - 10.10 Minister for the Polar Regions 2a. Protection of the Antarctic environment - Climate change, plastics and pollution Introduction to the Antarctic Treaty System – Jane Rumble, Head of Polar 10.10 - 10.30 09.35 - 11.00 - Marine biodiversity Regions Department, UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Terrestrial specially protected areas - Ratification of Annex VI to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the MORNING SESSION: Why Antarctica Matters Antarctic Treaty Introduction: The global impact of climate change in Antarctica - Professor 11.00 - 11.30 Coffee break 10.30 - 10.40 Dame Jane Francis, Director, British Antarctic Survey, UK Parliamentarians’ discussion and debate on Conference Statement How is climate change affecting Antarctica and what does it mean for us? – 10.40 - 11.20 2b. Scientific collaboration Professor Tim Naish, Antarctic Research Centre, New Zealand 11.30 - 12.15 - Improving climate change predictions 11.20 - 12.00 Coffee break - Collection and sharing of scientific information - Sharing scientific information with decision makers How will life in the Antarctic survive a changing world? – Professor Steven 12.00 - 12.45 Chown, Monash University, Australia 12.15 - 12.30 Official Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly photograph Lunch break 12.45 - 13.00 Final questions 12.30 - 14.00 - Working lunch for conference statement drafting committee 13.00 - 14.00 Lunch break 14.00 - 15.00 Parliamentarians’ discussion and debate on Conference Statement 2c. Human activities AFTERNOON SESSION: Challenges Facing Antarctica - Environmental Impact Assessments - Marine Protected Areas Geopolitics and Governance in Antarctica 14.00 - 14.10 - Sustainable fishing – Professor Klaus Dodds, Royal Holloway University, UK - Responsible tourism Future proofing Antarctica - can we succeed? – Birgit Njaastad, Norwegian - Improving hydrographic charting and navigation systems 14.10 - 14.50 Polar Institute, Norway 15.00 - 15.30 1. Future of the Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly Antarctic tourism: can human presence support environmental protection? - 14.50 - 15.30 Dr Daniela Portella Sampaio, University of Leeds, UK 15.30 - 16.00 Tea break 15.30 - 16.00 Tea break 16.00 Presentation and signing of Conference Statement A Force for Good? Antarctica and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic 16.00 - 16.40 17.00 Closing remarks Research – Iqra Choudhry, University of Manchester, UK 17.30 End of conference 16.40 - 17.00 Final questions 17.30 - 19.30 Drinks reception in the Library 17.00 Afternoon session ends

17.30 Coach departs for dinner at Armoury House Wednesday 4 December 18.30 - 23.00 Evening reception and dinner at Armoury House in the City of London Delegates depart 22.00 Coach returns from Armoury House to Westminster

www.antarcticparliamentarians.com SESSION ABSTRACTS

Keynote: Celebrating 60 Years of the Likewise, changes in Antarctica and the Geopolitics and Governance in The recognition of the Antarctic Treaty Antarctic Treaty System surrounding Southern Ocean have worldwide Antarctica as the main forum for Antarctic governance consequences for humanity. Antarctica’s ice sheets Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister Professor Klaus Dodds has always been conditioned by the Treaty’s hold 70% of the world’s fresh water and if they capacity to address new challenges in for the Polar Regions melted would raise global sea levels by about 65m. The governance of the Antarctic has been the region. Global sea level rise is the clearest planet-wide shaped by the Antarctic Treaty, which enjoys its In the last decades, the intensification of human Introduction to the Antarctic Treaty signal of human-induced climate change. So far 60th anniversary in December 2019. Created in activities in Antarctica has required not only System sea level has risen 20cm in response to 1°C of the midst of the Cold War, this treaty provided a coordination among different governments, but Jane Rumble, Head of the Polar global warming, and the latest science predicts sea mechanism for governing the Antarctic. Science fundamentally a common vision on how the and international collaboration were central to Regions Department, UK Foreign & level could rise by as much as 1.5m by the end of Antarctic should be managed. Peace and science the century and tens of metres in the centuries this new regime. Commonwealth Office have been the utmost Antarctic values so far, but to come. This presentation will summarise the Over the next five decades, the Antarctic Treaty how can they be maintained in face of the recent An overview of the significant achievements of current state of knowledge on how Antarctica is System (ATS) expanded as new legal instruments steep growth in tourism? Can we converge the the Antarctic Treaty over the past 60 years. responding to climate change, with special focus were developed and entered into force including current interest in Antarctica with its preservation? on the contribution of the Antarctic ice sheets to the Protocol on Environmental Protection. Issues Conciliating divergent interests has been the future sea level rise and the impacts for humanity. Introduction: The global impact of such as resource management, marine protected essence of the Antarctic Treaty, and perhaps this areas, biological prospecting and tourism, along climate change in Antarctica proves once again necessary. How will life in the Antarctic survive with an expanded membership including China, Professor Dame Jane Francis have transformed the geopolitics of Antarctica. a changing world? A Force for Good? Antarctica and the The polar regions are the areas on Earth Professor Steven Chown Scientific Committee on Antarctic Future proofing Antarctica – can most sensitive to climate change - change Research happens first and most radically at the poles. As Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are showing we succeed? dramatic signs of change. The region is generally Iqra Choudhry human activities warm the Earth’s climate the Birgit Njaastad warming, but on land, some parts are becoming response in Antarctica is being seen through Since the 1950s, the history of Antarctica wetter and others drier. How have the Antarctic’s melting of ice shelves by warm waters and by The Antarctic Treaty Parties set high has been intertwined with a small NGO: the strengthening of westerly winds. iconic species coped until now, and what do we environmental goals in signing the Protocol expect for the future? Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research The Southern Ocean that surrounds the continent on Environmental Protection for Antarctica. (SCAR). SCAR and its activities in coordinating is also responding by taking in more heat and Krill are moving southwards, penguins are no Antarctica remains as one of very few areas Antarctic Research and fostering collaboration carbon dioxide, causing it to become more acidic longer living where they used to, and wandering where it still may be possible to reach global between different countries has been integral and hostile to shelly marine creatures. In return, albatrosses are taking advantage of faster winds goals of conservation of large pristine areas for to the development of not only science in changes in Antarctica are affecting the whole The Southern Ocean’s ecosystems are already the future. Antarctica, but also Antarctic politics and policy. planet through rising sea levels that threaten responding. On land, Antarctic specialist species Antarctica is also particularly suitable for studies My research asks two questions: what role has coastal populations. This presentation will provide a are being replaced by more widely distributed of global environmental changes. The level of SCAR played in Antarctic governance and policy brief overview of Antarctic change to set the scene generalists, and new invasives from elsewhere activity in Antarctica is increasing steadily, enlarging over its history? And what can we learn from for the talks that follow. are finding it easier than ever to establish. The the human footprint. Furthermore, Antarctica is the relationship between SCAR and the Antarctic Antarctic is showing signs of losing its special in no manner immune towards ongoing global Treaty System?In this talk, I draw from two features. Forecasts suggest that, without dramatic How is climate change affecting environmental change. In the Antarctic Treaty important SCAR projects to illustrate its importance international action, life in the Antarctic will survive Antarctica and what does it mean for us? context, regulations and measures are set to help in the history of our political relationship with the by becoming less like we have come to know and maintain and achieve the high environmental seventh continent. Firstly, I will explore the creation Professor Tim Naish value it, and more like something we might see in goals for Antarctica. However, is what is being of the International Antarctic Analysis Centre our everyday lives. Antarctica, the coldest, highest, driest, most done today enough to secure Antarctica for the (IAAC), a project which brought together scientists remote continent on Earth, is intimately future or are environmental changes and activity at the height of Cold War tensions, and became a connected to the world we live in via the global expansion happening faster than the Parties are precursor to the World Weather Watch. Secondly, climate system. able to absorb? I look at the ways in which SCAR inspired and Changes caused by natural and anthropogenic pushed for the formation of the International Arctic drivers (eg CO2) are communicated to Antarctica Antarctic tourism: can human presence Science Committee (IASC) towards the end of the by oceanic and atmospheric processes, and support environmental protection? Cold War, creating a parallel for its activities on the influence the polar atmosphere, ocean, ice sheet, Dr Daniela Portella Sampaio other side of the world. sea ice, and biosphere.

www.antarcticparliamentarians.com SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Professor Steven L Chown, FRSSA

Lord Ahmad was appointed Conflict. He added Minister for the Polar Regions Steven L Chown is a Professor papers and several scientific and popular books. as Minister of State for the to his portfolio in July 2019. Lord Ahmad’s previous of Biological Sciences at Monash For many years he has represented SCAR at the Commonwealth, United Nations and roles include Minister for Aviation & Trade, Minister University, Melbourne, Australia, and Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, providing South Asia (including responsibility for Countering Extremism, Transport Minister and President of the International Science scientific advice on a broad range of environmental for the Polar Regions) at the Communities & Local Government Minister. Prior to Council’s Scientific Committee on and science policy. He is the inaugural recipient Foreign & Commonwealth Office in joining the government in 2012, he had a 20-year Antarctic Research (SCAR). His work of the Tinker-Muse Prize for science and policy in June 2017. He is also the Prime Minister’s Special career in the City, working in banking and finance. concerns the biodiversity impacts of environmental Antarctica. He has also received the SCAR Medal for Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in change, especially in the Antarctic, where he has Excellence in Antarctic Research, the South African worked for more than 30 years. He has published Antarctic Gold Medal, and the Zoological Society of widely, including over 400 peer-reviewed scientific Southern Africa Gold Medal. Jane Rumble OBE DSc(h.c.)

Jane Rumble has been Head of the UK Government, including as Head of the UK Professor Klaus Dodds FAcSS the Polar Regions Department in Delegation to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Klaus Dodds is Professor of Culture (2018) and a co-edited Handbook on the the Foreign & Commonwealth Meeting (ATCM) and UK Commissioner to the Geopolitics at Royal Holloway Politics of Antarctica (2017). He is an Honorary Office since 2007, having joined Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine University of London and Fellow of Fellow of British Antarctic Survey and Trustee of the Department in 2003. She Living Resources (CCAMLR). She also oversees the the Academy of Social Sciences. His the Royal Geographical Society. He is currently leads on all Antarctic issues for UK’s engagement with the Arctic Council. work considers the geopolitics and editor-in-chief of Territory, Politics and Governance, governance of the Antarctic and a journal published by the Regional Studies Professor Dame Jane Francis DCMG Arctic, and he has worked closely in a professional Association. In 2005 he was awarded the Philip capacity with the UK Parliament as a specialist Leverhulme Prize, and in 2017 awarded a Major Professor Dame Jane Francis is HM The Queen and in 2018 became Chancellor adviser to two parliamentary committees. He has Research Fellowship for work on the ‘Global Arctic’. published many books including Ice: Nature and Director of the British Antarctic of the University of Leeds. She is involved with Survey, a research centre of the international polar organisations such as the Natural Environment Research Antarctic Treaty and European Polar Board and Birgit Njåstad Council (NERC). In 2017, Jane Francis on several advisory boards for national polar was appointed Dame Commander programmes. Her research interests include ancient Birgit Njåstad leads the Antarctic She has participated and/or represented Norway of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in climates and fossil plants from the Arctic and Programme at the Norwegian in the Committee for Environmental Protection recognition of services to UK polar science and Antarctica, for which she has undertaken over 15 Polar Institute in Tromsø, Norway. since 1998. She currently serves as the Chair of this diplomacy. She was awarded the Polar Medal by polar science expeditions to the polar regions. Njåstad has had various positions Committee (2018-2020). Njåstad has a Masters in at the Institute over two decades, Natural Resource Management from the University and throughout this period has of Alaska Fairbanks. Professor Tim Naish NZAM, FRSNZ worked extensively and broadly with Antarctic management, policy and research related issues. Tim Naish is a Professor in Earth Antarctic Geological Drilling Program. Tim also Sciences at the Antarctic Research holds leadership positions in the World Climate Centre, Victoria University of Research Program and the Scientific Committee on Dr Daniela Portella Sampaio Wellington, New Zealand where Antarctic Research. He has a strong commitment he was Director from 2008-2017, to communication of Antarctic and climate change With a PhD in International Relations, grant, continuing her studies at Royal Holloway, before taking up a Royal Society science and its relevance to policy and society. Daniela has been working with University of London. She was an intern at the Antarctic Treaty governance since Antarctic Treaty Secretariat in 2015, and since then of New Zealand James Cook Fellowship. His He sits on the Australian Government’s National 2012. In 2014, She was awarded a she has worked as a Secretariat Advisor for Antarctic research focuses on past, present and future Advisory Committee on Climate Science. He was CAPES/Pro-defesa research grant to Treaty Consultative Meetings. Currently, Daniela is climate change with specific emphasis on how Lead Author on the Intergovernmental Panel on develop her doctoral project “The a Marie Curie Research Fellow at the University of the Antarctic ice sheets respond to climate Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment Report. He Antarctic exception. Sovereignty and the Antarctic Leeds. change and influence global sea level. He has has received the New Zealand Antarctic Medal, the Treaty governance” at University of São Paulo. participated in 14 expeditions to Antarctica and Martha Muse Prize for Antarctic Science and Policy In 2015, Daniela was also awarded a CNPq research helped found ANDRILL, a USD $30M international and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Iqra Choudhry

Iqra Choudhry is a PhD student at Science, Governance and Policy. She has a Masters the Centre for the History of Science, degree in Science Communication and is fascinated Technology and Medicine at the by the relationship between science and policy. University of Manchester where she is studying the History of Antarctic

www.antarcticparliamentarians.com GENERAL INFORMATION

Registration and badge collection Working languages Social events Shared literature and publications Please register at the conference venue, All sessions and discussions will be in English. A table is provided on the ground floor landing SixtyOne Whitehall, from 08.30 on Monday for delegates to leave copies of papers, reports Simultaneous interpretation into French, Participants are asked to wear their 2 December. Conference sessions begin conference badge at all social events. or literature that they would like to share with at 09.30. Spanish, Italian and Chinese is provided other delegates. throughout the conference sessions and Monday 2 December, 18.30 - 23.00 debates on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 Security December. Evening reception and dinner at Armoury Transport and luggage House, City of London. Attendance for For security reasons, please wear your badge Delegates must make their own way to Interpreters will not be available for social observers is by invitation only. for both the conference and evening events. events. and from the conference venue each day – see map and instructions at the front of Please bring a form of photo identification to Coach transport Please state whether you require simultaneous the brochure. Transport is not provided to the dinner at Armoury House on Monday interpretation at registration. A coach will be provided to transport all individual hotels. 2 December. delegates to the dinner. The coach departs For transport to the dinner on Monday Press, media and photography from outside the conference venue at Conference documentation 17.30 sharp. Latecomers must make their 2 December, please see Social Events Press are invited to the plenary sessions on own way to the dinner via taxi or public section (on the left). In line with the APPG Polar Regions’ Monday 2 December only. They will not be transport – see map and instructions at The conference organisers are not responsible paper-light policy, all conference present for the parliamentary discussions the front of this brochure. for delegates’ airport transfers. Delegates must documents will be available to download or debate of the conference statement on make their own way to and from the airport at from the APA website, Tuesday 3 December. A coach will transport delegates back to the start and end of the conference. www.antarcticparliamentarians.com one central location - Portcullis House, Please state at registration if you do NOT Westminster at the end of the dinner, Luggage cannot be left at the conference No printing facilities are available to consent to be photographed by the official departing at 22.00. venue for security reasons. Delegates should delegates at the conference venue, please conference photographer. ask at your hotel. return to their hotel to collect their luggage A documentary film crew will be following It is not possible to drop delegates before leaving for the airport. at their individual hotels. Submission of Amendments Professor Tim Naish and filming some sessions on Monday 2 December. Please state at Tuesday 3 December, 17.30 - 19.30 Internet The deadlines for the submission of registration if you do NOT consent to be amendments to the draft conference filmed. Informal drinks reception at conference Wi-Fi is available at the conference venue. statement are as follows: venue. All participants are invited to the Please check signs for log-in details. reception. 1st amendments: Coffee breaks, lunch & refreshments Medical care and emergencies Monday 2 December at 17.00 Coffee will be available at registration, as well Dress code for both events: Please report to reception for medical 2nd amendments: as morning and afternoon refreshment breaks Suits for gentlemen and business attire assistance or first aid. In case of an emergency, Tuesday 3 December at 12.15 served upstairs in the Library, on both days. for ladies See the programme for specific timings. call 112 or 999 – both numbers connect Final conference statement drafting directly with the UK Emergency Services. meeting: A buffet lunch will be served upstairs in the Tuesday 3 December at 12.30 - 14.00 Library on both days. See the programme for Contact for enquiries: Smoking timings. Amendments to the conference statement will Sophie Montagne Smoking is prohibited in all public buildings in If you have any specific dietary requirements, be managed by Dr Duncan Depledge. Please +44 7779 724488 the United Kingdom. pass any amendments either to Duncan please state these at registration. himself, or to the registration desk. Recycling badges At the end of the conference, please leave your badge on the reception desk so that it can be re-used for future events.

www.antarcticparliamentarians.com NOTES

www.antarcticparliamentarians.com PARTICIPANTS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

An exhibition of Antarctic photography by two of the UK’s most talented polar photographers is on display in The Library. ARGENTINA ITALY Martin Hartley Peter Geraerts

Martin has spent more Peter is a photographer AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND than 400 days working in and environmentalist, the Arctic and Antarctic whose work discusses on in excess of 20 our precious natural polar expeditions and landscape, our impact BELGIUM NORWAY assignments. on the planet and our interaction with the natural Several of these endeavours have focused on collecting data to help scientists better environment. understand our planet. Time magazine has BRAZIL RUSSIAN FEDERATION Inspired as a boy by the pioneering explorers acknowledged Martin’s contribution to science Franklin, Scott and Amundsen, Peter has with its prestigious Hero of the Environment visited and photographed some of the award for his research work on multiple most remote parts of our planet including surveys of the frozen Arctic Ocean. In 2017, Antarctica, South Georgia and the Arctic. CANADA SWEDEN Martin joined a North Pole expedition to collect In his studies of icebergs you can almost snow depth measurements for the European feel the silence and isolation that Sir Space Agency’s CryoSat programme, which Ernest Shackleton and others would have is being conducted in concert with NASA‘s experienced in the early 20th century. Operation IceBridge mission. Martin’s polar CHINA TURKEY images were exhibited at the United Nations’ climate change conference in Copenhagen.

ECUADOR UNITED KINGDOM

FRANCE UKRAINE

© Copyright Peter Geraerts Photography

www.antarcticparliamentarians.com Contact: Sophie Montagne Director of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions Secretariat [email protected] +44 (0) 207 219 6237

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