The 45th ATCM addressed climate issues and the protection of key species (like Emperor Penguins), but due to pressure from a couple of countries, little progress was made towards a robust adoption of the measures needed to protect this vulnerable region. Some steps were made however, including the creation of a new 36km² Antarctic Specially Protected Area, and broad agreement on the importance of effective regulation for shipping and tourism – the latter of which has been expanding rapidly with potentially negative impacts on the environment and other protected values of Antarctica.

The co-chair of the Antarctica2020 group – Pascal Lamy –  participated in a public seminar during a side event at the ATCM, organized in Helsinki by the Wilson Center. Lamy spoke about the major Antarctic environmental challenges, climate change being the greatest threat to Antarctica, why people should care about this issue, and why CCAMLR needs to act immediately.

Emil Dediu of the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy had an interview with the Belgian public broadcaster RTBF, where he explained the importance of ATCM decisions on penguin protection and climate – and highlighting the public installations in Helsinki calling for attention to iconic Antarctic species. Emil also emphasized the urgent need for protecting Antarctic biodiversity by establishing within CCAMLR waters a system of large-scale Southern Ocean MPAs.