ATCM

Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM)

The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) is the annual conference of all Antarctic Treaty Parties. There are two levels of participation -- Consultative Parties, which have ratified the Antarctic Treaty and the Environmental Protocol, and Non-Consultative Parties. (See a list of Parties) There are two groups of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with access to the meetings: the Observers include the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR); and the Experts include ASOC, International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and others. Since ATCM decisions are based on a consensus approach, all full Consultative Parties must agree on any measure before it takes effect.

Each year, the ATCM rotates among Consultative Parties, ATCM XXV was held in September 2002 in Warsaw, Poland; ATCM XXVI was in June 2003 in Madrid, Spain; ATCM XXVII was held in May 2004 in Cape Town, South Africa; ATCM XXVIII was held in Stockholm in 2005; ATCM XXIX was held in Edinburgh in 2006; and ATCM XXX was held in New Delhi in 2007.

As an Expert, ASOC has the right to submit Information Papers for review by the Parties, and to participate actively in debates on all issues. Clicking on the links below will take you to a list of our Information Papers and reports from each ATCM, as well as copies of ECO, an NGO newspaper published at the meetings.

For a list of all ATCM information papers submitted by ASOC, please click here.

ATCM Links:


Observers to ATCM:


Other ATCM Experts:


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