Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) Press Release: Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting Closes in Hiroshima—From 'Diplomatic Miracle' to '21st Century Resolve'

[Hiroshima, May 21, 2026] The 48th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM48) and the 28th Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP28) concluded today in Hiroshima.

A major focus of this year's meeting was the 35th anniversary of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, as well as the themes of peace, science, and education. However, the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) warns that serious warnings from the scientific community are not translating into sufficient policy action.

Claire Christian, Executive Director of ASOC, stated:
"The speed of diplomatic decision-making remains dangerously slow compared to the rapid changes in climate and biodiversity occurring in Antarctica."

A Historic Meeting Focused on Peace and Science
Holding the meeting in Hiroshima provided a powerful impetus to reaffirm Antarctica's value as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science." Japan's contribution to these values fostered a cooperative atmosphere throughout the meeting.

Patricia Cavalcanti, Asia-Pacific Program Director at Agenda Antártica, commented:
"The Antarctic Treaty was a 'diplomatic miracle' of the mid-20th century. Now, Treaty Parties have a historic opportunity to show 21st-century resolve worthy of that legacy. At its heart is a healthy environment that connects us all."

Expanding Antarctic Tourism Outpaces Regulation
ASOC welcomes some progress in negotiations to establish a framework for regulating Antarctic tourism. However, the coalition continues to urge Parties to develop legally binding rules to manage the rapidly increasing number of visitors.
Without a legally enforceable framework, the expansion of commercial tourism threatens to place irreversible pressure on Antarctica's wilderness and vulnerable ecosystems.

Ricardo Roura, Senior Advisor to ASOC, said:
"We cannot continue to rely on voluntary guidelines for the vast majority of rapidly expanding commercial tourism across the Antarctic continent. Establishing a framework is a first step, but the ATCM must urgently advance these discussions into mandatory, legally binding rules before the growth of tourism outpaces our ability to protect the environment, including the intrinsic values of Antarctica recognized in the Protocol."

Call for International Action on the Climate Crisis
ASOC emphasized that peace and environmental protection are inextricably linked. Protecting life-support systems, like the collapsing Antarctic ice sheets, is fundamental to preventing global conflict.
This sense of crisis is widely shared. A global survey by the Pew Research Center and the Gallup World Risk Poll shows that 67%, about two-thirds of humanity, see the climate crisis as a major threat to the future of the planet.

Pam Pearson, Director of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI), stated:
"The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time. The ATCM should not treat Antarctica as an isolated regional issue. This forum should use its diplomatic influence to send a message to the UNFCCC and world leaders that the world faces an extremely serious threat from melting Antarctic ice sheets if fossil fuel emissions are not rapidly reduced."

Scientific Alarms and Delayed Policy Response: Emperor Penguin Protection Deferred
The meeting considered a proposal to designate the emperor penguin as a Specially Protected Species. This followed the species being uplisted to 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List earlier this year.

Scientific bodies, including the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), reported "abrupt and accelerating" changes across the Antarctic system. They particularly highlighted the "exceptional" loss of sea ice, a critical habitat for emperor penguins.

While there was some progress, with Parties reaffirming the protection of emperor penguins as a priority, the meeting did not formally designate them as a Specially Protected Species. Opposition to the proposal came from a very small number of Parties.