Antarctica, the world's seventh continent, rarely appears in the news. The continent is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, established in 1959, which was considered by legal experts to be one of the most successful international agreements of its time. This is because the treaty demilitarized the continent, set it aside for peaceful purposes and scientific research, and was later expanded by the Environmental Protocol, which implemented a ban on mining and added various environmental protections. While many consider the idea of a future battle for Antarctica absurd, this perspective is often held by those who have a limited understanding of the continent's "exceptionalism." Our next guest speaker, Doaa Abdel-Motaal, who participated in an Antarctic expedition, has gathered her experiences and insights in her book Antarctica, the Battle for the Seventh Continent. In her talk, she will challenge this conventional wisdom, discussing the geopolitical issues surrounding the continent and the competition for land and resources, especially in light of the rapidly warming climate. We invite you to join our event if you're interested in why the future of Antarctica matters and what potential scenarios could unfold regarding the governance of the continent.

Language: English

5:00 PM – 5:45 PM             Moderated discussion

 

Doaa Abdel-Motaal, Guest Professor at Sciences Po University in Paris, Author of Antarctica, the Battle for the Seventh Continent

Moderator: Márton Basa, Researcher at the Climate Policy Institute

5:45 PM – 6:00 PM             Questions and answers

BIO

Throughout her career, Doaa Abdel-Motaal has focused on environmental and development issues, particularly climate change. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Switzerland and as an advisor to the organization's leadership on environmental and climate change matters. Additionally, she was the Chief of Staff at the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Italy. In 2015 and 2016, she conducted research on polar regions, during which she traveled extensively across Antarctica and the Arctic. She is deeply passionate about environmental protection. In her book Antarctica: The Battle for the Seventh Continent, she interviewed prime ministers and political leaders, offering a fresh perspective on the governance of the seventh continent. Following its presentation at the 2018 Financial Times Literary Festival, the book was nominated for the Mountbatten Best Award. She is a guest professor in Arctic studies at Sciences Po University in Paris.

Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Venue: MCC Scruton (1113 Budapest, Tas Vezér Street 3-7)

The event is open to both the public and the media, but requires prior registration.

Registration