The Responsible Tourism Society of India (RTSOI) has endorsed Mandip Singh Soin, Founder of Ibex Expeditions Pvt. Ltd., and his global advocacy campaign #AntarcticaMatters, joined by the UIAA, the world federation for climbing and mountaineering.
Antarctica Matters seeks to raise global awareness of the Antarctic Treaty System, which currently prohibits mining and commercial exploitation of Antarctica. The treaty is scheduled for review in 2048, and the campaign urges governments, civil society, travellers, international organisations, and NGOs to defend the treaty’s protective status.
Antarctica is a critical regulator of the Earth’s climate. Changes to its ice and temperature regimes drive sea‑level rise and alter weather patterns worldwide, with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable nations and communities.
Organised by Ibex Expeditions as a model of responsible tourism, the expedition included a Polar Pledge for participants to advocate for Antarctic protection. For legal advocacy and petitions to governments and international bodies, Luthra Law Offices and AZB & Partners are providing pro bono support.
RTSOI, Ibex Expeditions, the UIAA, and allied civil society actors call on States Parties, multilateral institutions, and the global public to uphold the Antarctic Treaty System and maintain its current prohibitions on mineral exploitation.
Antarctica functions as a planetary climate regulator and a repository of unique biodiversity. Under the precautionary principle and the duty to prevent transboundary harm, any weakening of legal protections would pose systemic risks to climate stability, food security, and coastal resilience.
We urge immediate, coordinated action across diplomatic, legal, scientific, and public channels to secure the treaty’s status quo ahead of the 2048 review. This includes sustained public awareness, evidence‑based policy engagement, and formal petitions to national governments and international organisations. Legal counsel for these actions is being provided pro bono by Luthra Law Offices and AZB & Partners.
Travellers and tourism operators are called upon to adopt and promote responsible practices, to take the Polar Pledge, and to act as stewards and messengers for Antarctic protection. The UIAA’s involvement underscores the broader outdoor and mountaineering community’s commitment to safeguarding fragile polar environments.
Protecting Antarctica is a shared global responsibility. Upholding the treaty aligns with international environmental law, climate resilience objectives, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Collective, multilateral stewardship today will safeguard planetary stability for future generations.
This collaboration demonstrates how ethical travel, scientific awareness, and coordinated advocacy can amplify conservation outcomes for one of the planet’s last pristine wildernesses.