Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System

SCAR’s role in the ATCM and CEP includes provision of Working Papers and Information Papers on:

• Emerging policy-relevant issues;
• Reviews of the state of knowledge; and
• Scientific and technical advice.

SCAR also provides a yearly Lecture on science topics SCAR believes will be of most interest to the Treaty Parties.

The Terms of Reference for the Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SCATS), which are laid out in the Rules of Procedure for SCAR Working Groups, are to:

1. Develop and provide independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS);
2. Respond to requests for advice from the Antarctic Treaty System;
3. Coordinate these tasks across SCAR’s subsidiary groups, the Executive Committee, and, where required, National Committees and the SCAR Delegates;
4. Co-represent SCAR at the various meetings of bodies that make up the ATS, and primarily the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) and the formal meeting of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties;
5. Adhere to a set of guiding principles as follows:
   – Ensure that its advice is accurate, independent, current, and traceable to source,
   – Rely on peer-reviewed, publicly-available science,
   – Formulate advice on a broad, inclusive, open-consultation basis to provide the most
   appropriate advice no matter where the expertise on which it rests resides,
   – Provide timely advice with the proviso that accuracy takes priority;
6. Report to the SCAR Delegates or the Directors (Executive Committee) as appropriate.