�鶹Լ��

• Antarctica faces many challenges, such as conflict over access to resources and climate change.
• Antarctica is a global common as it is outside of the control of any one country.
• The Antarctic Treaty is an agreement that sets aside any territorial claims, demilitarises the continent (so no weapons testing can take place) and promotes scientific research only.

The biggest challenges Antarctica faces include climate change, exploitation of resources, and damage to the ozone layer.

Climate change is affecting Antarctica. Parts of the continent are experiencing the greatest increases in temperature on the planet, leading to the melting of ice and loss of habitat for species like penguins. Some estimates suggest that sea levels have risen by around 3 mm per year since the 1990s.

Antarctica has many resources. As no single country owns Antarctica, access to these resources could cause conflict. Minerals, such as copper and gold, fossil fuels and fish stocks are all valuable resources that could be exploited. The landscape is also a resource and so increasing numbers of tourists are visiting Antarctica.

Ozone is a gas found high above the Earth. The ozone layer protects the planet from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. In the 1970s, scientists found that ozone was being destroyed and that ‘holes’ existed above the Arctic and Antarctic. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were found to cause this damage. CFCs are now banned and levels of ozone are recovering.

Antarctica is a global common. This means that it is outside of the control of any one country. Many countries work together in Antarctica and so the continent needs careful management to ensure that it is not destroyed.

After some countries tried to stake a claim to the continent, the International Antarctic Treaty was established in 1959 and signed by 12 countries. More than 50 countries have now signed it. The treaty is an agreement to put aside any territorial claims on the continent. It also establishes rules that nations must follow. Some of these rules are summarised below:

• Antarctica must be used for peaceful purposes only. All military activities are banned.
• There can be no nuclear explosions within Antarctica. The disposal of radioactive waste is also banned.
• Scientists from any country can carry out research, but any plans and findings must be freely shared.