Freshness tracker · AQAntarctica

Madrid Protocol 50-year minerals-prohibition review timing

Announced Other

The Madrid Protocol's prohibition on mineral-resource activity is subject to automatic review after 50 years from the Protocol's entry-into-force (14 January 1998) — therefore from January 2048. Any modification requires consensus among all Consultative Parties at that time. Discussions through 2024–2025 have reinforced political momentum to maintain the prohibition.

Who it affects

Long-horizon geopolitical context for all Antarctic governance.

Sources

Primary: Antarctic Treaty System Secretariat ↗

Verified 2026-04-19 · methodology · report a correction