Antarctic fragility a reminder of importance of success in Copenhagen – Ban

Wednesday, 02 December 2009 07:08

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged action on two fronts ahead of next week’s United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen as he marked the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty and commended European ministers for their work with the UN.

In a video address, the Secretary-General said that international cooperation in and for Antarctica provides an example for all. The Antarctic Treaty, signed by 47 countries, set aside the continent as a scientific preserve, established freedom of scientific investigation and banned military activity.

“I urge you to do your part to ensure that this month’s conference in Copenhagen lays the foundation for a legally binding climate treaty,” said the Secretary-General.

“Commercial activities, in particular unsustainable fishing, adverse impacts of tourism and biological prospecting, could jeopardize the integrity of the fragile Antarctic ecosystem. But the greatest threat is climate change,” he added.

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Antarctica in November 2007 to see first-hand the effects of climate change on the melting glaciers