The Antarctic Treaty System provides special protection for the Antarctic environment. This protection of very sensitive areas both on shore and in the ocean is provided under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CAMLR-Convention).
In the light of the growing interest in utilisation of Antarctica's resources, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CAMLR-Convention) was adopted on 20 May 1980. It entered into force on 7 April 1982.
Germany – as well as the other parties to the Treaty - implemented the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty into national law, which is why there is a German Act Implementing the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (AIEP). The AIEP identifies the German Environment Agency as the national competent authority.
The protection of the Antarctic is founded on the Antarctic Treaty, which manifests the intention to use the Antarctic only for peaceful purposes for all time. It also lays the groundwork for important follow-up agreements.
The German permitting procedure for activities in the Antarctic is regulated by a separate law, the Act Implementing the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (AIEP). Because of their potential impacts on the Antarctic continent, all planned activities are subject to a review and assessment.
Climate changes along the Antarctic Peninsula are affecting penguin populations across vast areas. The phenomenon can only be tracked on a large-scale with the help of remote sensing. The Federal Environment Agency is campaigning for a system of international penguin monitoring and has already gained some promising experience with possible monitoring methods.
Most of UBA's work with regard to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and the Antarctic Treaty itself is carried out in Dessau-Roßlau, but sometimes UBA staff members take part in inspections and observer missions in the Antarctic.
