Antarctica, once visited by fewer than 8,000 people annually in the 1990s, welcomed more than 124,000 tourists in the 2023–24 season, with projections suggesting numbers could rise to 450,000 by 2034. A new study in Nature Sustainability warns that this surge, combined with expanding research bases, is leaving a lasting mark on the continent. Researchers travelling across 2,000 kilometres of Antarctica found concentrations of toxic metals such as nickel, copper and lead up to ten times higher than four decades ago. Tourism not only generates vast carbon emissions—about 5.44 tonnes of CO2 per passenger—but also disturbs wildlife, damages fragile vegetation and increases the risk of invasive species.
Melting Snow and Limited Solutions
One of the most alarming effects comes from black carbon, soot released by ships, planes and generators, which darkens snow and accelerates melting. According to researchers, a single tourist can indirectly contribute to the melting of around 100 tons of snow. Scientific missions, while essential, can cause even greater harm, sometimes ten times more than a tourist visit. Attempts to reduce damage include bans on heavy fuel oil, hybrid electric ships and strict tourism guidelines enforced by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. However, scientists stress that only a decisive shift toward renewable energy and reductions in fossil fuel use will prevent Antarctica’s ecosystems from further decline.
Antarctica, once visited by fewer than 8,000 people annually in the 1990s, welcomed more than 124,000 tourists in the 2023–24 season, with projections suggesting numbers could rise to 450,000 by 2034. A new study in Nature Sustainability warns that this surge, combined with expanding research bases, is leaving a lasting mark on the continent. Researchers travelling across 2,000 kilometres of Antarctica found concentrations of toxic metals such as nickel, copper and lead up to ten times higher than four decades ago. Tourism not only generates vast carbon emissions—about 5.44 tonnes of CO2 per passenger—but also disturbs wildlife, damages fragile vegetation and increases the risk of invasive species.
Melting Snow and Limited Solutions
One of the most alarming effects comes from black carbon, soot released by ships, planes and generators, which darkens snow and accelerates melting. According to researchers, a single tourist can indirectly contribute to the melting of around 100 tons of snow. Scientific missions, while essential, can cause even greater harm, sometimes ten times more than a tourist visit. Attempts to reduce damage include bans on heavy fuel oil, hybrid electric ships and strict tourism guidelines enforced by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. However, scientists stress that only a decisive shift toward renewable energy and reductions in fossil fuel use will prevent Antarctica’s ecosystems from further decline.
