Abstract Antarctic environmental and climatic conditions have repercussions in Brazil and South America and are a central focus of concern as their balance may be affected. Therefore, legal instruments of environmental protection such as the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty are fundamental. To streamline its application, the Protocol foresees accelerated mechanism for the approval and entry into force of “Measures” that modify provisions in its Annexes. This basis makes it unnecessary to submit amendments to domestic processes of international treaties approval in member countries of the Antarctic Treaty – in the case of Brazil, National Congress approval. This could give rise to a violation of Articles 49, item I, and 84, item VIII, of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution. This paper claims that there is no violation. This conclusion was based on an approach that supports constitutionality based on formal foundations and interpretation of the law, so that, mainly, the provisions and norms arising therefrom are understood in the context of Executive Agreements. The methodological construction is supported by the deductive method and assumes that the research hypothesis is controlled.

Este artigo apresenta a definição geográfica do Ártico e identifica o regime de gestão internacional complexo que se consolida, sobre as águas e fundos marinhos internacionais do Oceano Ártico e mares adjacentes. Este regime tem por fundamento base a aplicação da Convenção das Nações Unidas Sobre o Direito do Mar (CNUDM). Da mesma forma, argumenta sobre preocupações, interesses e mudanças sobre a Região Ártica, o que envolve temas como: ambiente, mudanças climáticas, desenvolvimento sustentável, exploração de recursos, especialmente pesqueiros e petróleo e gás, rotas marítimas, estratégia e segurança, considerando possíveis disputas territoriais futuras. Contudo especula principalmente sobre a possibilidade dos efeitos das mudanças climáticas sobre a região gerarem impactos sobre o espaço e o ambiente brasileiro e sul-americano. A partir desses pressupostos reflete sobre a pertinência da inserção brasileira na região, através de desenvolvimento da investigação científica associada, da adesão do Brasil ao Conselho Ártico (CA), ao International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) e ao Tratado de Svalbard e da sua atuação na Nações Unidas, principalmente perante a CNUDM e a Comissão de Limites da Plataforma Continental (CLPC) e outros regimes em que são debatidas as questões pertinentes ao Ártico.

On traite ici de la définition géographique et du régime de gestion internationale des eaux et fonds marins de l’Océan Arctique et des mers adjacentes. Actuellement en cours de consolidation, ce régime résulte de la Convention des Nations Unies sur le Droit de la Mer (CNUDM). On traite aussi des divers intérêts et des modifications concernant la région arctique, tels que l’environnement, les changements climatiques, le développement durable, l’exploitation des ressources (surtout la pêche, le pétrole et le gaz), les nouvelles routes maritimes, la stratégie, la sécurité et la possibilité de futurs conflits territoriaux. On traite en particulier des conséquences que les changements climatiques affectant cette région pourront avoir sur l’ environnement brésilien et sud-américain. Ce qui amène à réfléchir sur l’opportunité de l’insertion du Brésil dans le Conseil Arctique, l’International Arctic Science Commitee et le Traité du Spitzberg et sur leur action au sein des diverses agences des Nations Unies pour développer les recherches scientifiques traitant des problèmes arctiques.

This article presents the geographical definition of the Arctic and identifies the complex international regime that consolidates over the international seabed and waters of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas. This scheme is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) implementation. Concerns, interests and changes over the Arctic region are also discussed, involving issues such as: environment, climate change, sustainable development, resource exploitation, especially fisheries and oil and gas, (new) sea routes, strategy and security, considering possible territorial disputes. But mainly speculates about the possibility of the effects of climate change on the Arctic Region generating impacts on the Brazilian and South American space and environment. Based on these assumptions, it considers the pertinence of the Brazilian insertion in the region, through the development of associated scientific research, the accession of Brazil to the Arctic Council (AC), International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and Svalbard Treaty and its work in the United Nations, mainly to the UNCLOS and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and other regimes in which issues relevant to the Arctic are discussed.