Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting

The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) is the principal decision-making body of the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), established under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 and in force since 23 June 1961. It brings together Consultative Parties—those states demonstrating substantial scientific activity in Antarctica—to "consult together on matters of common interest" and to recommend measures furthering the Treaty's principles: peaceful use, freedom of scientific research, and non-militarization of the continent south of 60°S latitude.

Participants fall into two tiers. Consultative Parties have decision-making rights and vote by consensus; Non-Consultative Parties may attend but not vote. Observers include the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), and the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP). Invited experts often include UNEP, the IMO, the IHO, and ASOC (the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition).

ATCMs adopt three categories of instruments: Measures (legally binding once approved by all Consultative Parties), Decisions (on internal organizational matters), and Resolutions (hortatory). The meeting also reviews work under the 1991 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol), which designates Antarctica as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science" and prohibits mineral resource activity other than scientific research. Since 1994 the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) has met alongside the ATCM to advise on Protocol implementation.

Originally biennial, ATCMs have been held annually since 1994. The host country rotates alphabetically among Consultative Parties and provides the chair. The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, headquartered in Buenos Aires since 2004, supports the meetings, publishes the Final Report, and maintains the official archive of adopted instruments.