September 9th, 2025 | 3:30 PM UK Time Register on Zoom.
Earlier this year, Impact Trust convened conversations exploring Antarctica as a case study for new approaches to planetary commons governance and the emerging concept of preemptive peace. We examined how Antarctica sits at the heart of our shared future – not just as a distant wilderness, but as a critical planetary system whose governance challenges mirror those we face globally.
Our timing was deliberate. The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Milan (June 23-July 3, 2025) represented a crucial moment for the future of Antarctic governance, coming at a time when pressures on the continent are mounting from multiple directions: climate change, resource extraction interests, and geopolitical tensions.
This dialogue brings us back together to examine what actually happened in Milan and what it means for the trajectory we’ve been exploring. We’re not just conducting a post-mortem of a diplomatic meeting – we’re using Milan as a lens to understand how planetary commons governance works (or doesn’t work) in practice, and what that teaches us about preemptive approaches to global challenges.
The conversation connects three critical threads: the immediate realities of Antarctic governance, the broader question of how we govern planetary systems, and the emerging framework of preemptive peace that could offer new approaches to global cooperation before crises fully emerge.
Going into Milan, we knew the stakes were high. Nations were increasingly viewing Antarctica through a resource extraction lens rather than planetary stewardship. The krill fishery had hit unprecedented catch limits. China and Russia were continuing to block marine protection efforts. The contrast between public statements (like Macron’s declarations with David Attenborough in Nice) and actual diplomatic action was becoming stark.
Milan represented a test: could the Antarctic Treaty system – one of humanity’s great achievements in international cooperation – adapt to govern Antarctica as the planetary life-support system we now understand it to be?
The results were sobering. As Andrew Kelly will detail, the Milan meeting revealed the growing gap between the governance frameworks we have and the planetary challenges we face. The U.S. delegation was notably weak. Key protection measures remained blocked. The disconnect between the urgency of Antarctic changes and the pace of diplomatic response.Meanwhile, the first-ever early shutdown of the krill fishery due to hitting catch limits happened precisely as these governance discussions were taking place.
This isn’t a story of inevitable decline. The mobilization potential around specific issues like krill fishing remains enormous. Antarctica Rights and other initiatives are developing frameworks that could shift how we approach planetary commons governance. The question is how to connect growing awareness of Antarctica’s planetary importance with effective action.
Cormac from Antarctica Rights will explore what concrete steps could mobilize people around Antarctic protection, and how this connects to broader sustainability and peace goals.
The conversation will examine multiple levels of influence – from individual action to middle power diplomacy. How do citizens of the world exercise agency over planetary commons? What role can middle powers like Canada, Australia, Norway, and Brazil play when major powers are gridlocked? How might new approaches to peace-building offer pathways forward?
Avila Kilmurray, bringing decades of peace-building experience, will reflect on what Antarctic governance challenges teach us about preemptive approaches to global cooperation – acting before conflicts fully emerge rather than waiting to respond to crises.
This conversation builds momentum toward broader questions about preemptive peace and planetary governance that we’ll continue exploring in our October 8th dialogue. We’re not just analyzing problems – we’re developing approaches that could be applied to other planetary commons challenges, from the Himalayas to ocean systems globally.
The trajectory leads toward potential conference planning and concrete initiatives that could demonstrate new models of global cooperation. Your participation helps shape what those initiatives might look like.
Date: September 9th 2025
Time: 3.30 PM GMT / 4.30 PM CET / SAST / 10.30 AM ET / 7.30 AM PST
Register here for the zoom link.
Join us September 9th as we transform concern about Antarctica into understanding of what’s possible when we govern planetary commons for the long term rather than short-term interests.
Andrew Kelly is the CEO of The Antarctic Science Foundation, which connects philanthropists and researchers to enable catalytic scientific research on the Icy Continent. Across two decades, he has witnessed the power of generosity by facilitating transformational gifts to Youth Off The Streets, The Smith Family, The Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), the Society of St Vincent De Paul and Children’s Medical Research Institute. Andrew trained as an economist before commencing a career in banking with Macquarie, Bank of America and Westpac. He has competed at an elite level in road cycling and is an Observer at the Australian Antarctic Science Council. His favourite role is being a Dad.
Indy Johar is an architect, co-founder of 00 (project00.cc) and Dark Matter. He has co-founded multiple social ventures from Impact Hub Westminster to Impact Hub Birmingham. He has also co-led research projects such as The Compendium for the Civic Economy, whilst supporting several 00 explorations/experiments including the wikihouse.cc, opendesk.cc. Indy is a non-executive director of WikiHouse Foundation & Bloxhub. Indy was a Good Growth Commissioner for the RSA, RIBA Trustee and Advisor to Mayor of London on Good Growth, The Liverpool City Region Land Commissioner, The State of New Jersey – The Future of Work Task Force – amongst others. Most recently he founded Dark Matter – a field laboratory focused on building the institutional infrastructures for radical civic societies, cities, regions and towns. Dark Matter works with institutions around the world, from UNDP (Global), Climate Kic, McConnell (Canada), to the Scottish Gove to Bloxhub (Copenhagen) He has taught at various institutions from the University of Bath, TU-Berlin; Architectural Association, University College London, Princeton, Harvard, MIT and New School.
Cormac Cullinan is a practicing environmental lawyer, author, speaker, and advocate for the rights of Nature based in Cape Town, South Africa. He is a director of the Wild Law Institute and the specialist environmental law firm Cullinan & Associates Inc.. He has drafted environmental treaties, legislation and policies in many countries. His groundbreaking book Wild Law A Manifesto for Earth Justice (2002) pioneered Earth Jurisprudence and has played a significant role in informing and inspiring the growing Rights of Nature movement. Cormac led the drafting of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth (proclaimed on 22 April 2010 in Bolivia) and is a founder and Executive Committee member of the Global Alliance for Rights of Natur