The purpose of this working group is to facilitate coordinated investigation and monitoring of chemical input to the Antarctic region. This is a policy-impact driven Action Group which aims to serve both the Global Monitoring Plan of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), as well as the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol) which explicitly prohibits the importation of POPs (chemicals of known risks) to Antarctica. Targeted system chemical input pathways of investigation include; atmospheric transport; oceanic transport; in-situ usage, and migratory biota.

The Action Group will draw together the Antarctic POP research community in order to devise a long-term coordination body, and underpinning funding strategy, for realising Action Group goals.