Even without commercial development, explorers and scientists have damaged the Antarctic environment. Scientists need shelter, laboratories, regular deliveries of supplies, and transport to scientific sites and other bases, and they produce considerable quantities of waste. Scientific bases have accumulated rubbish, burnt it or disposed of it in the sea. The sites are often untidy with leaking fuel drums and waste contaminating the land. Old bases were just abandoned with o attempt to save the environment.
 In 1983, France began building a long runway at Dumont d’ Urville so that it could use large Hercules transport planes to supply it’s scientists. There was much opposition from environmentalists and a survey was done to assess how much damage it would cause. The survey team recommended that the runway should be abandoned because of the environmental damage it would cause, but in 1987 building continued anyway. Five islands inhabited by Emperor Penguins were blown up to provide materials for it’s construction.
 In 1989, an Argentinean supply ship sank off the Western Antarctic Peninsula, spilling over a million litres of diesel fuel into the sea. It affected bird and marine life in the sea. The environmental damage of such accidents is likely to be long lasting, because diesel fuel takes 100 times longer to break down in Antarctica than in a warmer climate.

The Antarctic Treaty is a unique document. It contains a provision that that territorial claims will be ‘frozen’ and that anyone can go anywhere to conduct approved activities. No nation can claim any new territories, nor do anything to strengthen it’s claims or weaken the claims of others. The Antarctic Treaty refers to the cooperation in science as existed during the IGY and establishes science as the principal Antarctic activity. It bans any nuclear testing or dumping of nuclear waste.

1. Antarctica is to be used for peaceful purposes only. Military personnel may be employed but only on scientific or essential peaceful work.
2. The freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation is to be maintained.
3. Scientific observations are to be made freely and scientific personnel are to be exchanged and all information about all activities is to be regularly exchanged.
4. All political claims are frozen for the duration of the treaty and no new claims will be asserted while the treaty is in force.
5. Nuclear explosions and dumping of radioactive waste in Antarctica is banned.
6. All stations and equipment are open to inspection of observers appointed by Antarctic Treaty nations.