Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
Improve international coordination and data sharing for Antarctic climate monitoring.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government work with international partners through the Antarctic Treaty System to improve coordination of long- term climate monitoring in Antarctica, ensuring that the data outputs from such monitoring is openly shared and feeds directly into global climate assessments and decision-making processes. This is critical given the current US administration’s potential budget cuts to their science programmes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 99)
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, agreeing on the importance of long-term monitoring and data sharing within the Antarctic Treaty System. They confirm ongoing work to develop an international framework for environmental monitoring and a planned joint workshop in May 2026.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government accepts this recommendation. 11. The Government agrees that long-term monitoring and data sharing is important for informing policy and decision-makers. Within the Antarctic Treaty system, monitoring has long been considered by Parties, including ongoing intersessional work considering the development of an international framework for environmental monitoring. Ahead of next year’s ATCM, due to be held in Hiroshima in May 2026, there will also be a joint Committee for Environmental Protection–Scientific-Committee of CAMLR workshop focusing on climate change and environmental monitoring.