Interdiction de l’exploitation minière en Antarctique, une réalité menacée ?

Prohibition of Antarctic mineral resources activities, a threatened reality?

Droit, Brest Business School, Brest, France

^* Auteur correspondant : anne.choquet@brest-bs.com

Reçu : 8 Novembre 2016
Accepté : 24 Octobre 2017

Résumé

Plus de vingt-cinq ans ont passé depuis l’adoption du protocole au traité sur l’Antarctique relatif à la protection de l’environnement (signé à Madrid en 1991) qui consacre l’interdiction des activités relatives aux ressources minérales, sauf à des fins scientifiques. L’enjeu de la raréfaction des sources d’énergie fossile accentue les convoitises de ceux qui souhaiteraient exploiter des ressources antarctiques. Dans la mesure où le protocole de Madrid prévoit la possibilité d’amender ses dispositions et en raison de malentendus parmi le grand public et les médias sur les conditions d’une levée de l’interdiction des activités minières, les États ont choisi de réaffirmer, en 2016, l’interdiction des activités relatives aux ressources minérales en Antarctique autres que la recherche scientifique.

Abstract

Twenty-five years have passed since the adoption of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (signed in Madrid in 1991), which designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science”, thus setting up a comprehensive system for the protection of the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems. Contrary to the Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities (adopted in Wellington in 1988) which has not entered into force, the Madrid Protocol prohibits all activities relating to Antarctic mineral resources, except for scientific research. The issue of limited fossil fuels intensifies the appetites of those who wish to exploit mineral resources in Antarctica. It is often rumoured that protection afforded by the Madrid Protocol would expire in 2048 as it provides for the possibility to amend its provisions. The Protocol does indeed offer a possible lifting of the ban on mineral resource activities fifty years after its entry into force in 1998. Nevertheless, its requirements need to be spelled out as the conditions they pose are far more restrictive than appears. The conditions laid down include decision-making and the entry into force of the measures selected. There is widespread misconception and misunderstanding regarding an expiry date of the prohibition on mining activity in Antarctica. For this reason, the prohibition of Antarctic mineral resources activities was reaffirmed in 2016 within the Antarctic Treaty System.