Antarctic Bill

The Antarctic Bill is presented as a Private Member’s Bill by Neil Carmichael MP who came 7th in the ballot. The Bill has Government support and follows from a draft Bill consulted on by the previous Government in 2009.

Part 1 of the Bill seeks to implement the “Liability Annex” to the Antarctic Treaty that was agreed in 2005, making the UK the first to do so. This Annex aims to reduce the risks of environmental emergencies in Antarctica and to establish a polluter pays approach to such incidents. The Bill also makes a number of amendments to the Antarctic Act 1994 extending environmental protection in line with subsequent Treaty changes.

The Bill was presented to Parliament through the Private Members’ ballot procedure on 20 June 2012 and is scheduled to have its Second Reading on Friday 2 November 2012. It applies to the UK and allows for the extension of certain provisions to the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and British overseas territories.