CAS Project Spurs Scientific Cooperation Between China, Argentina, and Chile on Climate and Antarctic Research

A Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)-funded project focused on Earth observation in the Pan-Antarctic cryosphere is yielding significant outcomes, fostering new scientific cooperation between China and key South American partners. By strengthening collaboration with institutions in Argentina and Chile, researchers are advancing shared goals in climate resilience, satellite technology, and Antarctic ecosystem studies.

The CAS-funded project, spanning from 2021 to 2024, supports the application of cutting-edge Earth observation technologies to monitor ecological and environmental changes in the southern polar regions. Building on this project, the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of CAS has expanded its partnerships across South America—regions that offer strategic observational advantages for tracking climate phenomena such as glacial retreat in Tierra del Fuego and biodiversity shifts in the Southern Ocean.

As part of the project, a delegation led by Prof. ZHANG Bing, Deputy Director of AIR, undertook a 13-day visit to Argentina and Chile from March 9–21, 2025, to advance joint research with key South American partners.

A milestone in this visit is the Memorandum of Understanding between AIR and the National University of Tierra del Fuego (UNTDF) in Argentina. The agreement formalizes collaboration on key areas including forest fire monitoring, marine dynamics, and Antarctic biodiversity. It also paves the way for UNTDF to join the China-led Digital Sustainable Development Goals Program, an international initiative promoting the peaceful use of space technologies to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The project has also led to plans for a joint China-Argentina Climate Change and Sustainability Research Center, which will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research and field expeditions in Antarctica. Areas of focus include glacial systems, early human settlements, and the protection of fragile southern ecosystems. Discussions are underway to launch a similar partnership with Chilean institutions, reflecting the growing scope and regional relevance of the CAS project.

As the project enters its final year, its legacy is already taking shape in the form of robust international partnerships. AIR is working to establish joint research teams, academic exchanges, and permanent research centers in both countries—creating a model for sustained cross-continental scientific collaboration.

By aligning technological capabilities and scientific expertise, this network of cooperation is helping to advance global efforts to understand and address the impacts of climate change—especially in one of Earth's most vulnerable regions.