The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ACTM) will take place in Hiroshima, Japan in May. The meeting brings together experts from dozens of countries, including Research Professor Timo Koivurova from the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland.

Research Professor Timo Koivurova is representing the Finnish delegation that is participating in the central decision-making and negotiation forum of the Antarctic Treaty System.

ATCM meetings are composed of Consultative Parties, which include all the world’s major states, including the United States and China and several European Union countries. The purpose of the ATCM meetings is to propose policy recommendations on issues such as environmental protection, scientific cooperation, and governance of Antarctica. The meeting days consist of working groups, plenary sessions, and conclude on May 21 with the final report.

“Finland is a key Consultative Party at the ATCM, because of its membership in the Arctic Council, but more notably, due to its extensive research activity in the Antarctic”, Koivurova says.  

Koivurova’s areas of expertise include international law and polar law, which is beneficial to attain the negotiation objectives of Finland.  

“The rapid growth of tourism in the region will most likely receive special attention during this year’s ATCM meetings. The aim is to negotiate and determine what kind of mutual frameworks can be implemented by the Parties to the Antarctic Treaty to make decisions regarding tourism more sustainable and effective”.

The ATCM is organized for the 48th time and starts May 11, 2026. The last time it was organized in Finland was in 2023 in Helsinki, where Timo Koivurova was also part of the Finnish delegation.

More information:

Timo Koivurova, Research Professor, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
040 551 9522, timo.koivurova@ulapland.fi