Articles | Lowy Institute

13 Sep 2024
Antarctica

Space exploration
As China’s space technology advances, Antarctica’s relevance may be frozen out

Claire Young

Re-evaluating concerns about the potential military uses of space technology on the white continent.
4 Sep 2024
Russia

Antarctica

BRICS

Environment

International law

Sustainability
Will Russia violate the Antarctic Treaty?

Sergey Sukhankin

For Moscow, science has always come second to ideology.
22 May 2024
Australia

Antarctica

United States
Biden’s new Antarctic statement holds lessons for Australia

Tony Press

Different views of sovereignty on the continent shouldn’t obscure the many shared goals.
9 Apr 2024
China

Australia

Antarctica
What are China’s long-term Antarctic ambitions?

Benjamin J. Sacks , Peter Dortmans

Beijing’s desire to expand into “far frontiers” will test Antarctic protocols. Canberra will need a robust response.
27 Feb 2024
Antarctica

International law
Antarctic diplomacy and the critical role of inspection mechanisms

Jeffrey McGee , Richard Rowe

The future of the Antarctic Treaty System relies on laws that both foster cooperation and manage tensions.
21 Feb 2024
China

Australia

Antarctica
China has a fifth station in Antarctica

Claire Young

Keep calm and do science and inspections.
21 Dec 2023
Australia in the World

Antarctica

Environment

International law

International Relations

Multilateral Institutions

Sustainability
A jurisdiction over the high seas

Bec Strating

Australia will be a key player in the new agreement governing the globe’s largest natural habitat.
11 Jul 2023
China

Antarctica

Sustainability
Charting new paths for Antarctic protection despite China’s resistance

Claire Young

Too much would be lost by tearing up existing agreements. There are other ways to entice Beijing to cooperate.
24 Mar 2023
Australia

Antarctica

Sustainability
Krill campaign less than thrilling

Claire Young

Sea Shepherd should widen its net beyond activism by diversifying efforts to support sustainable fishing.
18 Mar 2022
Australia

Russia

Antarctica

Ukraine
The end of Antarctic exceptionalism?

Elizabeth Buchanan

Plunging Russia into the diplomatic deep freeze has implications far beyond Europe on cooperation over global commons.
18 Feb 2022
Antarctica
Not so quiet on the Southern Front

Marigold Black , Peter Dortmans

Australia faces stiff geopolitical competition in Antarctica, and it’s not just China and Russia with eyes on the prize.
20 Jan 2022
Review

Antarctica
Cold front: Antarctica and its military future

Claire Young

Repurposing scientific equipment on the frozen continent is possible but would give little military advantage.
26 Nov 2021
Australia

Antarctica
Opportunity lost: Australia’s Antarctic aerodrome cancelled

Claire Young

If the Antarctic Treaty System does fail, this decision may be regretted. The challenge now is to ensure it does not.
8 Oct 2021
China

Antarctica
China and the future of the Antarctic mining ban

Nengye Liu , Chen Jiliang

The continent’s resources are frozen until at least 2048. But a carbon-zero shift could see them left on ice far longer.
22 Jun 2021
Antarctica
A Cold War deal on ice: The Antarctic Treaty at 60

Donald R Rothwell

The remarkable resilience of what evolved into the Antarctic Treaty System cannot be an excuse for complacency.
3 May 2021
Sustainability

Australia

Climate change

Antarctica

Environment

International law
The Davis aerodrome and Australia’s leadership in the Antarctic

Nengye Liu , Paul Govind

How can Australia pretend to uphold the ATS while pursuing a project that risks unprecedented ecological impact?
16 Feb 2021
Antarctica

International law
Antarctica: Working a rules-based system

Claire Young

The frozen continent is not fully quarantined from an assertive China, yet myths should not be mistaken for reality.
14 Jul 2020
Australia

Russia

Antarctica
Australia’s Russia problem (and how to solve it)

Elizabeth Buchanan

Quite literally, the coldest continent might be just the right place to thaw out Canberra’s frosty ties with Moscow.
23 Oct 2019
Australia

China

Antarctica
Antarctica and the China test

Mark Harrison

While Australia’s federal politicians ponder the US-China puzzle, it may be state governments stuck with real choices.
3 Oct 2019
United States

China

Antarctica
Poles apart: The long shadow of US-China competition

Nengye Liu

National rivalry should not get in the way of cooperation to stop the greatest threat to polar regions – climate change.
13 Aug 2019
Australia

China

Antarctica
The (other) continent we can’t defend

Elizabeth Buchanan

A rude challenge awaits Canberra’s cosy assumptions about the Antarctic Treaty System and its ongoing relevance.
26 Jul 2019
China

Antarctica
The importance of trust in preserving Antarctica’s future

Tony Press

China’s Antarctic law-making plans hinge on winning consensus – very different from proposals that win little support.
11 Jul 2019
China

Antarctica
The heights of China’s ambition in Antarctica

Nengye Liu

Beijing’s aim to declare a special managed area at the ice sheet’s highest point is a test of Antarctic governance.
29 May 2018
Australia

Antarctica
Building a paved runway in Antarctica

Julia Jabour

Scrutiny of the environmental cost is needed before plans for a runway in Australian Antarctic Territory are realised.
19 Feb 2018
Antarctica
Collaborating with China in Antarctica

Indi Hodgson-Johnston

Countries should seek to foster scientific cooperation in the areas of ocean and climate research.