ARCC Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center ASOF Antarctic and Southern Ocean Forum ASOS Antarctic and Southern Ocean Strategy. COMNAP Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. DHEST Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology DROMLAN Queen Maud Land Air Network Project.
SADC Southern African Development Community SANAP South African National Antarctic Program SAMSA South African Maritime Safety Authority. SANAE South African National Antarctic Expedition SANSA South African National Space Agency SAWS South African Meteorological Service.
Overview
The Strategy contributes to climate action under SDG13 by recognizing that Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are critical to the global climate system, thus supporting actions to conserve Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The Strategy contributes to SDG14 (conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources) by promoting the importance of ecological integrity in Antarctica and the Southern Oceans, and by promoting the establishment of specially protected and managed areas . With regard to reinvigorating the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development (SDG 17), the Strategy seeks to position South Africa to constructively influence global negotiations under the Antarctic Treaty System and pursue cooperation with other parties.
The strategy also contributes to the National Development Plan's Vision 2030, for South Africa's transition to an environmentally sustainable climate resilient economy and society. It prioritizes research into the role Antarctica and the Southern Oceans play in the global climate system and emphasizes the importance of continued research to strengthen our weather and climate prediction capabilities, which is critical in the context of a rapidly changing climate.
The Antarctic context
Historic context
It is the area corresponding to a polar projection towards the east and west coasts of South Africa (Figure 1). In the period following the constitutional entrenchment of Apartheid in 1948, South Africa's development choices and actions would have been burdened by the country's struggle to thwart its growing international isolation. The Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) was one of the few, if not the only, multilateral formation in which South Africa was still a welcome participant.
A further distinctive era spans the period from the declaration of the Republic of South Africa in 1961 to the birth of Democratic South Africa in 1994. The year 1994 was a milestone that provided an opportunity to reflect on past experiences and be better able to formulate a policy approach that would be appropriate for the South African context. This era is characterized by the Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP) and a series of policy formulation processes under the new democratic dispensation on the one hand and the global restructuring that has given rise to new multilateral alliances on the other.
South Africa therefore inherited a legacy of interest and participation in Antarctic affairs from the British, as well as an enthusiasm for participation from Apartheid South Africa, largely due to international isolation.
The Antarctic Treaty system
The Antarctic Treaty applies to the land and sea area south of 60oS Latitude (Figure 2). The Prince Edward Islands (PEIs), consisting of Marion and Prince Edward Island, is a South African territory, and in this document will only be discussed in accordance with South Africa's interest in the sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean . Antarctic Treaty has membership of 53 countries representing the majority of the continents, dominated by Europe, Asia and South America; and South Africa is the only member party from the African continent (Figure 3).
This gives South Africa an opportunity to also represent the interests of African and developing countries. In addition, there has been an increase in the number of Parties acceding to the Treaty and many of the Parties have since defined or redefined their strategic interests within the Antarctic Treaty System and expanded their footprint through the establishment of additional research bases across strategic areas within the Antarctic treaty system. continent. The Department of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading South Africa's involvement in Antarctic and Southern Ocean affairs through the Antarctic Treaty Act (ATA, 1996).
Other key government agencies involved in SANAP include the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South African Weather Service (SAWS) and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). SANSA is an agency of DSI and its presence in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean aims to improve the understanding of space physics, with an emphasis on space weather. The Space Weather Center provides an important service to the nation by monitoring the sun and its activity and providing information, early warnings and forecasts about space weather conditions.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is the national research organization of South Africa, established in accordance with the Scientific Research Council Act of the Parliament of the Union of South Africa. CSIR is a pioneer of the Southern Ocean Carbon Climate Observatory (SOCCO) program, implemented in collaboration with international agencies, and focuses on the hypothesis that this is fine. In addition, SAWS is mandated to provide marine meteorological weather forecasts to all ships in the ocean adjacent to South Africa up to the Antarctic Shelf (Metarea VII) (Figure 4).
SAMSA is an agency of the DoT responsible for ensuring safety of life and property at sea and protection of the marine environment. SAMSA is therefore responsible for MRCC operations and its responsibility is maritime search and rescue in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica adjacent to the South African mainland.
SOUTH AFRICA’S INVESTMENT AND FOOTPRINT IN ANTARCTICA, SUB-
South Africa has not only maintained an uninterrupted presence in the Antarctic since 1960, but has played an active role in the conservation and sustainable use of the vast continent and contributed to the body of scientific knowledge. Gough Island, a British territory southwest of South Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, is very strategic for South African weather observations and forecasts. A lease agreement for the island was concluded with Britain in 1956, after which South Africa established a meteorological station (Figure 7).
The South African Weather Service has operated the Gough Island weather station since 1956 and is the custodian of a long-term data set, containing high-quality weather observations in the maritime area south-west of South Africa. It was replaced in 1980 by the ship SA Agulhas which was a significant investment in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean activities. For 34 years, she serviced the bases and conducted research in the Southern Ocean, which on several occasions served as a platform for multinational research expeditions.
The instrument is a region-specific, theme-driven funding instrument that supports research in the Southern Ocean, including Prince Edward Islands and Antarctica. Research in the Southern Ocean geographic region, including Prince Edward Islands, and/or Antarctica. Alignment with research topics as detailed in the South African Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research Plan.
As a way of assessing South Africa's footprint, its contribution as in the number of bases, ships,. As outlined in the Marine and Antarctic Research Strategy (2016) led by the then Department of Science and Technology, it is South Africa's ambition to maximize the benefit of our strategic geographic advantage to produce world-class ocean, Antarctic research and climate change. The weather station operated by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) since 1956 at Gough Island is serviced.
The SAWD is the custodian of a long-term data set, which contains high-quality weather observations in the sea area south-west of South Africa. The project aims to develop a better understanding of the important ecosystems of the Southern Ocean.
RATIONALE, VISION, GOAL AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR CONTINUED
- South Africa’s National Interests
- Vision
- Goal
- Values
- Pillars of the Antarctic Strategy
- Strategic objectives
- Introduction
- The Antarctica and Southern Ocean Forum (ASOF)
- The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Technical Committee (ASOTC)
- The South African Antarctic Unit
- Long-term institutional considerations
Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are understood, valued and protected in the interest of South Africa, Africa and the world. Promote conservation and sustainable use of marine and terrestrial biodiversity in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Increase public awareness of and interest in Antarctic and Southern Ocean affairs to mobilize public interest and support for SA's continued engagement in Antarctic affairs.
South Africa's strategic objectives in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are underpinned by our pillars and strategic interests. Antarctica and the Southern Ocean must be recognized and appreciated by South Africa's scientists, policy makers and the general public, due to their uniqueness and geographical proximity. The primary focus for the provision and utilization of South Africa's Antarctic and Southern Ocean infrastructure is to ensure that it is fit for purpose, supports our geopolitical, custodianship and research responsibilities, and that it meets the necessary safety standards.
Therefore, the institutional structures supporting the Antarctic and Southern Oceans program must be decisive and flexible and must fully understand the interdependencies between the sectors operating in that environment. As a focal point for the implementation of the Antarctic Treaty Act, it is proposed that the Director General of DEA chair the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Forum (ASOF) (Figure 10). It is proposed that an Antarctic and Southern Ocean Technical Committee (ASOTC) be established, drawn from participating agencies as well as those that have the potential to participate significantly in the future (Figure 11).
The main purpose of the committee is to explain the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Forum's policy guidelines and to set research priorities. Most Antarctic countries have a unified structure that can coordinate and cooperate with other Antarctic and Southern Ocean stakeholders. The unit's mandate would be to advance South Africa's strategic, scientific and environmental interests in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
It would also be blamed for maintaining our presence in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. The consolidated, coherent and transparent governance structure and institutional arrangements will help to maximize efficiency, realize new opportunities and improve South Africa's global profile and return on investment in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Maximize visibility and assertiveness and promote the African agenda in the negotiation processes of the Antarctic Treaty System.
Expand the scope of Antarctic and Southern Ocean research beyond traditional sectors to include applied and emerging sectors.
