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Establishment of Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the conservation of Southern Ocean biodiversity (debate)
The polar regions of the Earth must be reserved for peace and science. With climate change, warming is more pronounced in the Earth's polar regions, causing serious environmental problems. The polar regions are specific and sensitive areas that are particularly vulnerable to potential environmental damage. Action is urgent. The polar regions are warming up to three times faster than the global average. Antarctica, for example, is estimated to have warmed by nearly three degrees in the last 50 years. In addition to climate change, the pressure on the use of natural resources is increasing. The Madrid Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty defines an area as a ‘natural reserve dedicated to peace and science’ and must be maintained as such. Any attempt to violate this agreement must be condemned. In this resolution, Parliament supports the creation of two new MPAs totalling approximately 3 million km2. Negotiations are ongoing within the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). A similar nature reserve dedicated to peace and science should also be developed in the Arctic. This is a matter of urgency, and the EU should play a strong role in Arctic policy. Protected areas would play an important role in meeting global biodiversity and climate commitments. I have long been advocating for a special Arctic environmental impact assessment, which uses a longer timeframe to assess the impacts of projects and also takes into account the multiplication of impacts and the rights of indigenous peoples to use the area. A joint communication on the Arctic dimension is expected from the Commission towards the end of the year.