Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 2
CHAPTER 37
Relative to the Antarctic Treaty and preservation of the Antarctic region.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
June 05, 1991.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 2, Harvey.
Antarctica: the Antarctic Treaty and preservation of the Antarctic region.
This measure would memorialize the President and the Congress of the United States to direct the Secretary of State to enter into continued negotiations with the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties at a convention in Spain to conclusively designate Antarctica as an environmentally protected region and recognize the region as a protected global ecological commons.
Digest Key
WHEREAS, The Antarctic provides habitat for a broad diversity of fish and wildlife, including many rare and endangered species; and
WHEREAS, Ninety percent of all the ice in the world, which contains seventy percent of all of the fresh water on Earth, is located on the Continent of Antarctica; and
WHEREAS, The cold waters surrounding Antarctica absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than all of the rain forests combined; and
WHEREAS, The Antarctic may well be worth far more to humanity intact, than it could ever be worth as a source of natural resources development; and
WHEREAS, California recognizes that it is in the interest of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord; and
WHEREAS, California acknowledges the substantial contributions to scientific knowledge resulting from international cooperation in scientific investigation in Antarctica; and
WHEREAS, California agrees that the continuation and development of that cooperation on the basis of freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica is in the best interest of science and the progress of all mankind; and
WHEREAS, The governments of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, the French Republic, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the Union of South Africa, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America signed an agreement on December 1, 1959, to support and implement the Antarctic Treaty for the purposes of preserving the Antarctic environment and its heritage; and
WHEREAS, The primary purpose of the treaty is to protect the exceptionally pristine Antarctic ecosystem of water, air, land, flora, and fauna; and
WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of Californians to ensure that Antarctica is managed in the interest of all humankind, in a manner that conserves its unique environment, preserves its value for scientific research, and retains its character as a demilitarized, nuclear-free zone of peace, without harmful consequences to the local and global environment; and
WHEREAS, There are currently 24 Antarctic Treaty Consultative (voting) Parties, and 14 NonConsultative (nonvoting) Parties; and
WHEREAS, Treaty business is conducted in biennial meetings of the parties; and
WHEREAS, The biennial meeting commenced in Santiago, Chile, on Sunday, November 18, 1990, continued through Friday, December 7, 1990, and considered the following protective measures: basic principles, institutions, decision making, monitoring, dispute settlement, marine pollution, waste disposal, protected areas, tourism, and environmental impact assessments; and
WHEREAS, An agreement was reached to begin negotiations on a new instrument for the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment, and the principle of a prior environmental impact assessment before any human activity could take place was adopted; and
WHEREAS, No agreement was reached regarding mineral activities, but a consensus to continue the various protection measures and the voluntary constraint of countries with respect to mineral activities was reached; and
WHEREAS, The Consultative Parties have agreed to continue negotiations on the drafting of a new international instrument for the conclusive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent ecosystems at another meeting commencing in Madrid, Spain, on Monday, April 22, 1991, to continue through Tuesday, April 30, 1991; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the State of California memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to direct the Secretary of State to enter into continued negotiations with the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties at the convention in Spain to conclusively designate Antarctica as an environmentally protected region and further recognize the region as a protected global ecological commons; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the Secretary of State.