As Antarctica evolves from a scientific haven to a sought-after tourist hotspot, intensifying concerns about its ecological fragility all eyes are now on India which is leading discussions at the ongoing ten days 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Kerala, on regulating tourism to safeguard the icy continent’s pristine wilderness.
Similar deliberations are being held at the 26th meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP).
Discussions around regulating tourism have been ongoing in the ATCMs since 1966, but so far these have been just centered around agenda items, sessions, papers, or resolutions. This is for the first time a dedicated working group for regulating tourism in the region has been formulated at the 46th ATCM, hosted by India in Kochi from May 20.
The gathering has over 350 participants from nearly 40 nations, deliberating on the climate change threats exacerbated by the increased…
