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Notes from the SCAR President, number 10 (28 April 2009)

XXXII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting

Colleagues,

I am pleased to report that SCAR ATCM team had a successful two weeks at the XXXII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, USA from 6-17 April, 2009. The SCAR team included myself, Colin Summerhayes, Mike Sparrow, and Karin Lochte (Steven Chown, Chair of SCATS was in the field and could not attend). Numerous other SCAR supporters were present attached to national delegations and assisted as needed. For your information I attach the meeting report and refer you to the report for details of SCAR's activities.

The meeting celebrated the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty and the conclusion of the International Polar Year 2007-2008. A joint session of officials and Foreign Ministers representing the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties and the Arctic Council convened on April 6 in Washington DC with an address by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The joint session issued the Antarctic Treaty-Arctic Council Joint Meeting Washington Declaration on the International Polar Year and Polar Science (Appendix 1 of the meeting report). In addition there was ATCM Resolution I (2009) Ensuring the legacy of the International Polar Year (IPY) (Appendix 2 of the meeting report). There was an afternoon of science presentations at the US National Academies highlighting US IPY programs.

It was a busy two weeks for the SCAR team introducing one Working Paper and nine Information Papers which can be found on the XXXII ATCM Papers page of the SCAR website:

A highlight was the SCAR Science Lecture attended by about 80-100 people and given by Karin Lochte (GER), Director of AWI. Her presentation entitled Marine Life and Change in the Southern Ocean was an opportunity to highlight the work of the SCAR SRP EBA. The presentation was very well received and positive comments were plentiful. We thank Karin for taking time out of her busy schedule. The presentation will be available on the SCAR web site soon.

The SCAR Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment report was very well received and the ATCM decided to convey the associated IP to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change calling attention to SCAR's work.

The SCAR team met with various SCAR member nations and stakeholders utilizing nearly every lunch, dinner, and social occasion to do so.

On Monday evening of the second week at a reception, the Tinker Foundation announced the creation of the Martha T. Muse Prize for Science and Policy in Antarctica: An IPY Legacy. It was also announced that SCAR has been selected as the administering organization. The Muse Prize is a US$ 100,000 unrestricted Prize awarded to an individual in the fields of Antarctic science or policy who has demonstrated potential for sustained and significant contributions that will enhance the understanding and/or preservation of Antarctica each year. The SCAR Secretariat is in the process of establishing a web site and appointing a Selection Committee (nominations are welcomed). The prize-winner can be from any country and work in any field of Antarctic science or policy. The goal is to provide recognition of the important work being done by the individual and to call attention to the significance of understanding Antarctica in a time of change. I will be communicating further on this very positive development for SCAR in future Notes.

As usual, we accumulated new requests in addition to those deferred due to time and resource constraints for ATCM XXXIII in Uruguay. The list of items to address remains long (details can be found in the meeting report):

There are many other items summarized in the meeting report. If you have any questions about this material please let me know.

I gratefully acknowledge the hard work by the many people over the last year who contributed to SCAR's success at the XXXII ATCM; it could not have been accomplished without the support of all SCAR's various programs and bodies. SCAR's reputation continues to grow and the delivery of high quality, unbiased scientific advice is more important than it has ever been to the wise management and stewardship of Antarctica.

Chuck K.
President of SCAR

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