Antarctica, long considered Earth’s last great wilderness, is increasingly under pressure from human activity. Visitor numbers have surged from fewer than 8,000 annually in the 1990s to more than 124,000 in 2023–24, with projections suggesting up to 450,000 by 2034. Researchers from Chile, Germany, and the Netherlands spent four years travelling 2,000 kilometres across the continent and found that areas with human activity now contain ten times higher concentrations of toxic metals such as nickel, copper, and lead than four decades ago. Tourism, along with expanding research bases, not only emits greenhouse gases but also introduces pollutants that accelerate snow melting and threaten fragile ecosystems.
Pollution, Melting Snow, and Conservation Efforts
Tourists and research missions leave more than a carbon footprint. Visitors disturb wildlife, trample delicate flora, and raise the risk of introducing invasive species and diseases. Black carbon from ships, aircraft, and diesel generators darkens snow, reducing its reflectivity and increasing heat absorption. Scientists estimate a single tourist can accelerate the melting of up to 100 tons of snow, while a research mission can have ten times that impact. Attempts to mitigate damage include bans on heavy fuel oil under the Antarctic Treaty, hybrid electric ships, coordinated ship movements, and strict wildlife-watching rules. Despite these efforts, experts warn that only a faster transition to renewable energy and significant reductions in fossil fuel use can effectively protect Antarctica’s ecosystems from the growing human footprint.
