What would it mean to recognise Antarctica as an autonomous legal entity with rights of its own, capable of being represented in the decisions that affect it?
The story of Antarctic Rights began in early 2021, when Carola Rackete, a German ship captain and conservation scientist, asked a few international lawyers whether the principles of Rights of Nature could be applied to Antarctica. Cormac Cullinan, environmental lawyer and prominent voice in the international Rights of Nature movement, and Linda Sheehan, a lawyer who also works at the intersection of environmental law and the rights of the natural world, immediately recognised the idea’s potential.
Applying Rights of Nature to Antarctica would offer an entirely new perspective on the relationship between law, Nature and the international governance of our planet. The representation of Antarctica’s vast, wild and interconnected community of life, together with the Southern Ocean, the ice, the ecosystems and the beings that depend on them, is indeed a unique case: although Antarctica’s governance is shaped by international agreements, Antarctica’s living community has no independent legal voice in the decisions that affect its future.
Following Carola’s question, Antarctic scientists, academics, international lawyers and Rights of Nature advocates came together to explore how this vision could be translated into law. The Antarctic Rights Working Group began meeting regularly online in 2021 and met in person for the first time in August 2023. Its members, drawn from around 17 countries, brought expertise in Antarctic science, international governance, environmental law and Earth-centred legal thinking. The task was unprecedented: to consider what recognising Antarctica as an autonomous legal entity would mean, which rights should be recognised, what responsibilities would follow for states and other human institutions, and how Antarctica’s interests could be represented in international decision-making.
The Antarctica Declaration
This work led to the first draft of the Antarctica Declaration in 2023. The draft proposed recognising Antarctica, understood as an interconnected community of Antarctic beings, as an autonomous legal entity with a status analogous to that of a state. It set out inherent rights for Antarctica and the beings who form part of its living community, alongside corresponding duties for humans, governments, organisations and international institutions.
The initiative was presented publicly on Antarctica Day, 1 December 2023, at COP28 in Dubai, where the Antarctic Rights Working Group, together with the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, introduced the draft Declaration and invited organisations and individuals to join an Antarctic Alliance.
The Declaration was conceived as a foundation for further discussion, legal development and international cooperation. It is not intended to replace the Antarctic Treaty System, but to complement and strengthen existing arrangements with a new normative framework grounded in respect for Antarctica’s own rights and interests.
Building a Global Alliance
As the Declaration developed, the initiative grew beyond the original working group. From 2024, efforts to build a wider international network brought together organisations and individuals committed to advancing recognition of Antarctica’s rights.
In June 2025, Cormac Cullinan wasawarded the Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions in recognition of this work, bringing further international attention to the initiative.
The Antarctic Rights Alliance was officially launched on 1 December 2025, Antarctica Day, through a coordinated gathering connecting people and communities across several continents. The launch marked a transition from an initiative driven by a specialist working group to a broader alliance seeking international recognition of Antarctica’s rights.
A New Organisational Structure
As the initiative grew, its structure evolved to meet the demands of a global campaign. In January 2026, the Antarctic Rights Working Group became an Executive Committee, creating a more focused structure for coordinating the initiative, advancing the Declaration and guiding the Alliance’s work. Some former working group members joined the Advisory Council, where they continue to contribute their expertise and perspectives.
The initiative continues to draw on interdisciplinary knowledge. Recognising Antarctica’s rights requires dialogue between law, science, governance, Indigenous perspectives and the diverse communities concerned about the future of the southern polar region.
A Global Consultation
In 2026, a consolidated draft of the Declaration was prepared for public consultation, inviting people and organisations around the world to engage with its proposals, offer comments and help refine it.
The consultation ran for 120 days, from 22 June to 19 October 2026, and included 12 sessions across different locations and online platforms, in English, Spanish, French and Italian. Webinars, discussions and written submissions gave people from diverse backgrounds and fields of expertise the chance to consider the Declaration and share their perspectives.
The comments received are now being considered as the Declaration moves towards finalisation. The consultation was a significant step in building the international understanding and support needed to advance recognition of Antarctica as an autonomous, rights-bearing entity.
Towards the Signing in Cape Town
The next milestone will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, on 1 December 2026, Antarctica Day, during the Antarctic Rights Festival, the festival running from 30 November to 4 December 2026. The signing of the Declaration is intended to mark the culmination of years of legal development, international collaboration and public engagement, and the beginning of a new phase in the campaign for recognition and implementation.
The Declaration sets out a vision in which Antarctica is recognised as a living community with rights of its own, rather than merely a place over which humans exercise authority. It calls for legal and institutional arrangements through which Antarctica’s interests can be represented in the decisions affecting it, while placing corresponding responsibilities on humanity.