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2041, led by polar explorer Robert Swan OBE, has just returned from a 15-day expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty. Robert Swan OBE was joined by an international team of 47 participants from 16 nations to focus on leadership towards the strategic climate solutions needed to preserve our planet.
In the prelude to the upcoming COP-15 meeting in Copenhagen, the expedition team implores our respective leaders to learn from the example of the Antarctic Treaty and explore how this policy mechanism can be used as an example of the type of international cooperation needed to combat our current environmental crisis.
Robert Swan OBE said: "Our leaders must use the Antarctic Treaty as an example of one of the great success stories of the past century: nations working together for the common goal of protecting our planet." World leaders should follow the example of cities such as Abu Dhabi, which is building the only carbon - free city in the world expected to complete in the next few years. This progress has been represented on our expedition by Abdulla Al Hamed who represents Abu Dhabi.
The Antarctic Treaty, signed 50 years ago to the date in Washington DC, is a shining example of international cooperation to preserve a piece of our planet for science and peace. While the Antarctic region had previously been the site of much commercial and political conflict, the Treaty allowed nations to move past a seemingly irreconcilable disagreement in favor of a larger purpose and ultimate goal of preservation. Although the issues of sovereignty still remain, the Treaty allows nations to focus on the protection of Antarctica while simultaneously protecting their national interests by placing the issue of sovereignty in abeyance.
Expedition participant Steven Blumenfeld, currently studying at Yale University, spoke on how the Antarctic Treaty can be used as an example for nations meeting at the Copenhagen Conference to achieve common goals: "This Treaty was a brilliant piece of legislation that built a platform over the conflict from which nations could work past their differences and preserve Antarctica for peace and science. We need to take the lessons we’ve learned here in Antarctica and apply those globally to rise above our differences and create a new framework for addressing our climate issues." Robert Swan OBE will be bringing this message to global leaders at the COP-15 meeting in Copenhagen later this month. His yacht, 2041, will be moored in Copenhagen.
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