Sierra Blogging Post Archives

Back in 2007, we mentioned that Antarctica is becoming increasingly troubled by tourism. Well, the U.S. is now stepping up negotiations with the world community to limit Antarctic tourism.

Antarctica's fragile ecosystem is seemingly put at increased risk by the hordes of visitors who want to see the landscape before it changes due to global warming. 46,000 tourists visited Antarctica in the 2007-2008 season - more than four times the number of people who visited in 2000 - 2001.


In addition to pollution, disturbances to the landscape and negative effects on marine animals that increased tourism brings, the safety of the tourists is also a major concern. Tourism is unregulated in the area which also means safety precautions (like lifeboats and emergency preparations) are often inadequate.

Hillary Clinton met with the Arctic Council at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, on Monday to propose limits on the number of landings allowed by tourist vessels in Antarctica and to call for "greater cooperation to prevent potentially hazardous discharges from those ships." She is also seeking new lifeboat and safety requirements for all tourist vessels.

The U.S. is proposing an amendment to the 50-year-old Antarctic Treaty that would extend the marine pollution rules and provide greater protection to the area. "The treaty is a blueprint for the kind of international cooperation that will be needed more and more to address the challenges of the 21st century," Clinton said. "It is an example of smart power at its best: governments coming together around a common interest and citizens, scientists and institutions from different countries joined in scientific collaboration to advance peace and understanding."

Not everyone agrees that tourism is bad for Antarctica. Some think seeing the area firsthand makes for more responsible citizens. Some think tourism helps spread the word about global warming and climate change.

I think that's true, but I also think limiting tourism in Antarctica, or at the very least regulating it, is the right thing to do. What do you think?