• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.259-270
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to provide information to understand the context of the Antarctic Treaty System by looking back on its development process. It also aims to review the roles and activities of the CEP in the System in order to support the improvement of our Antarctic science policy. This study considered the developmental histories of independent conventions for Antarctic conservation and Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty under the system. CEP, established in accordance with the Protocol, has expanded its roles in the ATCM under the circumstances of climate change and increasing human activities in the treaty area. I examined CEP's functions, relationships with formal observers, and its activities along with CCRWP. In addition, I have estimated the contribution of the Parties to the CEP based on the documents submitted by the Parties. The leading Parties of the System have strengthened their initiatives to expand contributions to CEP with their output based on national Antarctic Program. However, Korea has not been able to take initiatives in the System even though Korea has invested considerable resources in its Antarctic program. To strengthen Korea's capability to instigate initiatives in the system, I suggest the following approaches: Firstly, Korea should improve its Antarctic science policy based on the newly established CEP five-year work plan; Secondly, Korea should organize a long-standing expert group to focus on Antarctic environmental policy and related scientific information; finally, Korea should intensify its collaboration with other Parties in developing Antarctic environmental priority issues.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2006

The so called Antarctic Treaty System, started from the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, has gradually been enlarged into the concept of an international environmental regime, which has been included in not a few international institutions, treaties, conventions, and international non-governmental organizations (INGO). This kind of movement, as in the role of an international environmental regime, has recently been highlighted in the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. This Protocol is taking appropriate measures as an international environmental regime in regulating its member nations by enforcing principles in protecting Antarctic resources and environment, regulating member nations' Antarctic activities, establishing norms in the adoption of international and domestic laws, and devising regulations for deciding administrative actions through the member nations' collective decision-making procedures. h this context, this paper is to test a few questions; firstly, how the Antarctic Treaty System can be related with the role of international environmental regime; secondly, how the theories of international environmental regime, such as the hegemony theory, rational choice theory, and international morality theory, can be tested in the role of Antarctic Treaty System as an international environmental regime. Finally, this paper provides a solution for the future problems of the Antarctic Treaty System as an international environmental regime regarding the regime's principle (conflict between the environmental principle and the right of nation-state), norms and regulations (the conflict between the developed and underdeveloped nations in terms of the concept of 'common but differentiated environmental responsibility'), cooperation directions (the leadership problems between hegemonic nation and multilateral leading groups), and management methods (cooperation and arrangement problems among expert institutions, observer groups, and INGO).

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2004

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was ratified in 1991. With the aim to ensure comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment, it contains provisions on environmental protection and conservation of the Antarctic area, including provisions for Environmental Impact Assessment. Environmental Impact Assessment is a method used to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, and find ways to mitigate or prevent adverse impacts in order to maintain balance between development activities and environmental conservation. Internationally, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the Antarctic is classified into three types - preliminary, Initial, and Comprehensive - based on the environmental impacts of the proposed activities. In case of the Preliminary Environmental Review (PER), proposed activity may proceed in accordance to the national procedures and drafting of an outline. However, Initial (IEE) and Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) assess and verify the impacts of the proposed activity, and require methods or alternatives for mitigating or eliminating negative impacts on the environment. Although Korea's Act of 'Activities and Environmental Protection in Antarctica' also includes provisions on EIA for activities in Antarctica, there are obvious contrasts with the EIAs currently being conducted in Korea, in regards to deciding the level of EIA through screening and identifying key issues for assessment through scoping. In order to implement the proper EIA, more improved methods for drafting and reviewing the EIA to Antarctica in Korea are necessary.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2017.04a
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• pp.139-139
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• 2017