WELCOME to the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) website
The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs is an international association, formed in 1988, which facilitates support to Antarctic operations amongst the governmental National Antarctic Programs. Our Membership is thirty-four country programs, representing almost 100% of the science and science support activity in Antarctica. The National Antarctic Programs, our Members, are responsible for delivering and supporting scientific research in the Antarctic Treaty Area on behalf of their respective governments and in the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty. They work collaboratively and individually to ensure data from Antarctica is available to the world.
Projects
COMNAP Projects support our Membership, engage the public, and ensure we are providing best practice advice to the Antarctic Treaty system.
Expert Groups
People within the COMNAP Membership have a depth and breadth of expertise found nowhere else. A fundamental aspect of our organisation is to support the free exchange of information between these experts.
Ambitions
Our Ambitions include caring for the environment, supporting our Members to succeed, and fostering strong community relationships while contributing towards a positive, enduring Antarctic future.
Documents and resources
Over the years, we have worked with our Membership and the wider Antarctic community to produce a range of informative brochures, booklets, books and even the Antarctic Station game. Some of our publications provide guidance to our Members on things like waste management, critical technologies, preventing the introduction of non-native species into the Antarctic environment and how to prevent and respond to oil spills. We are advisors to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs) and to the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) through our Permanent Observer status.
News & Events
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HAPPY ANTARCTICA DAY
1 December 2025
The Council of Managers of National Programs (COMNAP) and the University of Canterbury (UC) are pleased to jointly announce that we have agreed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the hosting of the COMNAP Secretariat at UC. The new MoU is for the period through September 2033. Formal signing of the MoU by both parties will take place in the early new year…but we thought the news was too good to hold on to…especially given today is Antarctica Day.
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Welcome to fiona hopkins
24th November
The COMNAP Secretariat is delighted to welcome Fiona Hopkins as a new part-time Administrator and Project Coordinator.
Welcome Fiona! -
COMNAP Vice Chair Özgün Oktar participated at EPB 2025 Autumn Plenary Meeting
21 November 2025
The European Polar Board (EPB) held its 2025 Autumn Meeting on 18–19 November at the TÜBİTAK Gebze Campus, hosted by the TÜBİTAK Polar Research Institute.
COMNAP Vice Chair Özgün Oktar participation provided valuable opportunities to meet EPB delegates, exchange views, and explore ongoing and future collaborations between European partners.
You can read the full report of Özgün participation on the Members' Only webpage (Username and Password required).
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COMNAP attending COP30
14 November 2025
COMNAP, through Andrea Colombo, is taking part to the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 30), taking place in Belém, Brazil, as part of the University of Canterbury delegation. During this first week of sessions, of particular relevance for COMNAP work, have been, amongst others, sessions on emissions from fuel used for international aviation and marine transport, matters relating to capacity-building, and research and systemic observation.