Environmental Governance in the Marine Arctic

Publication: Document
Citation: Roo, Colette de et al. 2008: Environmental Governance in the Arctic. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

This paper presents an overview of the existing institutional and legal framework relevant to environmental governance, as well as formal and informal governance structures in the Arctic marine area. It highlights the complexity of approaches applicable at the local, regional and international scales, rather than identifying gaps in governance at the sectoral scale.

Governance of the marine ecosystems within the Arctic is a critical issue, due to the growing pressure of activities like shipping, drilling and fisheries – pressures that will be exacerbated by global climate change. Increasingly, adaptation to climate change is being recognised as a key policy objective by policy makers, local indigenous peoples and a wide range of international stakeholders. Coherent governance structures encompassing local, regional, and global levels are especially important in the Arctic because the region both strongly impacts and is impacted by global systems. The background paper is available for download.

Arctic Marine Governance

Opportunities for Transatlantic Cooperation

Year 2013

Publication:Policy Brief

The Arctic TRANSFORM project, funded by the European Commission's Directorate General of External Relations, engaged experts in a transatlantic discussion of five Arctic-related thematic areas: indigenous peoples, environmental governance, fisheries, offshore hydrocarbon activities, and shipping. Expert working groups addressed each thematic area with the goal of developing policy options for the Arctic marine area. This policy brief draws upon a series of background papers, expert meetings and interviews to provide an overview of the international and EU governance options for addressing the rapid changes underway in the region.

Transatlantic Policy Options for Supporting Adaptation in the Marine Arctic

Year 2009

Publication:Report

Current Arctic marine shipping is mainly intra-Arctic. Since 2000, there have only been a few trans-Arctic voyages in summer for science and tourism across the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route. The main consequence of climate change for Arctic marine shipping is contained in the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA)'s key finding that "reduced sea ice is very likely to increase marine transport and access to resources". This background paper, prepared by Erik J. Molenaar and Robert Corell for the Arctic TRANSFORM project, focuses on intra-Arctic and trans-Arctic marine shipping in the Arctic marine area.

Arctic Shipping

Year 2009

Publication:Report

This background paper, prepared by Erik J. Molenaar and Robert Corell for the Arctic TRANSFORM project, focuses on fisheries that occur in the Arctic marine area, including fisheries for anadromous species that spawn in rivers that flow directly into the Arctic marine area. The paper follows a sectoral perspective, but in pursuance of an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF). Due to this sectoral perspective, the focus will be exclusively on international instruments and intergovernmental and other relevant international bodies that relate to, or pursue, conservation as well as management. No attention will therefore be paid to those that focus exclusively on conservation of species and habitat by various means, including by the regulation of international trade.

Arctic Fisheries

Year 2009

Publication:Report

This policy analysis, prepared for the Arctic TRANSFORM project, provides a comparative analysis of EU and U.S. policy relevant to dealing with the effects of climate change in Arctic marine areas. Arctic marine governance at present is a patchwork of rules, measures and polices at various levels and institutions. A key question is how better co-ordination among the current sectoral and regional approaches can be achieved to address future governance needs. A second question is whether even better co-ordination among these approaches will suffice to meet these needs, or whether a more comprehensive approach is required. Addressing the unique challenges facing the marine Arctic could be an opportunity for both the EU and U.S. to revitalise their co-operation and show combined environmental leadership.

Comparative Policy Analysis

US, EU and Transatlantic Arctic Policy

Year 2009

Publication:Policy Brief

This policy brief draws upon a series of background papers, expert meetings, and interviews to provide an overview of the international and EU governance options for addressing the rapid changes underway in the region. While reflecting the opinions of its authors, this policy brief benefits from the opinions and insights of the experts participating in the five thematic working groups of Arctic TRANSFORM.

Transatlantic Policy Options for Supporting Adaptation in the Marine Arctic

Summary for Policy Makers

Year 2009

Publication:Document

This background paper, prepared by the Arctic Centre in September 2008 as part of the Arctic TRANSFORM project addresses the magnitude of current oil and gas activities in the offshore Arctic and outlines the potential environmental, social and economic consequences of the offshore hydrocarbon activities. It examines the international legal framework for offshore oil and gas activities in the Arctic, including transboundary environmental assessment of oil and gas activities and addresses the current policy context in offshore oil and gas activities in the Arctic.

Offshore Hydrocarbon: Current Policy Context in the Marine Arctic

Year 2008

Publication:Document

The aim of this paper, prepared by the Arctic Centre in September 2008 as part of the Arctic TRANSFORM project, is to present the situation of the Arctic indigenous peoples in relation to the changing marine environment. The Arctic region is home to several groups of indigenous peoples (including Inupiat, Yup’ik and Aleut in Alaska, Inuit in Greenland and Canada, Saami in Fennoscandia and Russia and, Yup’ik, Chukchi, Even, Evenk and Nenets in Russia). Out of the total population of 4 million people in the Arctic, 10 % are indigenous. Climate change significantly impacts the traditional harvesting and other activities of indigenous peoples.

Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic

Year 2008

Event:Conference

Arctic at Stake – Experts Call for Improvements in Governing Climate-change Adaptation

5 March 2009
Brussels, Belgium

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Camilla Bausch

ir. Colette de Roo

Sandra Cavalieri

Melanie Wassermann

Doris Knoblauch

Aaron Best
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General for External Relations (DG Relex), International
Published by: Ecologic Institute, Germany
Year: 2008
Dimension: 41 pp.
Project: Transatlantic Policy Options for Supporting Adaptations in the Marine Arctic (Arctic TRANSFORM)
Project ID: 1913
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

1. INTRODUCTION
2. ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
1.1. Marine Governance: Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs)
1.2. Legal and Policy Framework
1.3. Global agreements
1.4. Regional regimes
1.5. Informal approaches / initiatives
2. EXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE IN THE ARCTIC MARINE AREA
2.1. Species-based approach: Polar bear management
2.2. Species-based approach: Beluga whale management
2.3. Regional approach: Cooperation in the Barents Sea
2.4. Regional approach: Cooperation in the North-East Atlantic
2.5. Summary of examples of Arctic governance
3. PERSPECTIVES ON THE WAY FORWARD
3.1. Strengths and weaknesses of the current approach
3.2. Expert recommendations
3.3. Concluding remarks and questions for discussion
ANNEX: GLOBAL TREATIES, CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELEVANT TO ARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
REFERENCES
Keywords: Adaptation

Arctic

Climate

Coastal + Marine

Environmental Law – Ecologic Legal

Governance

Public Diplomacy

environmental governance

Arctic