The Near Future Governance of Antarctica: Challenges and Opportunities

The governance of Antarctica has long been debated, including proposals to ‘repurpose’ the United Nations Trusteeship Council (UNTC) for its administration. However, the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) emerged as the primary framework. In 2021, UN Secretary-General António Guterres revived discussions on the UNTC's role in managing internationally shared spaces including Antarctica. This paper assesses the AT system's evolution, and examines its relationship with the UN system. It evaluates the ATS's effectiveness in ensuring stability, scientific collaboration, and environmental protection, offering policy recommendations to strengthen Antarctic governance amid growing global challenges. In the aftermath of the 2024 Pact for the Future , the near future governance of the ATS and other global commons remains an open question for the future of the planet.