Efforts to protect vast areas of Antarctica to get significant EU boost

European Parliament to support global effort to arrest biodiversity loss in critical ecosystem

Kevin O'Sullivan Environment & Science Editor
The Weddell Sea in Antarctica, one of the world’s most important and vulnerable ecosystems. Photograph: David Tipling/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Weddell Sea in Antarctica, one of the world’s most important and vulnerable ecosystems. Photograph: David Tipling/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

International efforts to designate as a protected area a vast part of eastern Antarctica and the Weddell Sea, in one of the world’s most important and vulnerable ecosystems, are set to receive a major boost with the European Parliament backing a resolution on Thursday.

It will mean the EU has reached an agreed position after months of consideration, and will be a strong advocate for designating the two marine protected areas (MPAs) stretching over 3 million km2 when world superpowers and signatory countries meet under Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in China next October.

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