scholarly journals Biodiversity governance under the Arctic Council: The role of science, business and NGOs

Polar Record ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Prip
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Work ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
Policy Advocacy ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
International Context ◽  
State Actors ◽  
Political Commitments ◽  
Biodiversity Governance

Abstract Since its inception, the Arctic Council (AC) has focused on biodiversity, under its working group on the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna. By adopting a holistic, cross-sectoral approach to biodiversity governance, the AC has acknowledged that biodiversity is not only a matter for the Council and its governments: also non-state actors must be involved. This article analyses whether and how three essential non-state actors – science, business and NGOs – influence AC processes on Arctic biodiversity, comparing the roles of these actors on biodiversity governance in the wider international context. AC work on biodiversity has remained largely scientific, with fewer political commitments for states and the Council as such: science has had a significant influence, whereas there has been limited space for the involvement of the business sector. NGOs have served mainly as contributors and partners in scientific work, increasingly also assuming policy advocacy roles. This article notes the need for closer political cooperation on biodiversity in the AC, with firmer commitments for states and the AC, inspired by work in other AC focal areas.

The Role of the Arctic Council from an International Law Perspective: Past, Present and Future

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 349-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshinobu Takei
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Treaty Negotiations ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Law Making

Established in 1996, the Arctic Council has played an essential role in promoting pan- Arctic cooperation on various issues concerning the Arctic. Increasingly, its activities have contributed to the development of international law relating to the Arctic in terms of law-making and implementation. Recent developments make it pertinent to investigate the possibilities and challenges faced by the Arctic Council in developing legally binding instruments and otherwise contributing to the development of international law relating to the Arctic. How has the Council been engaged in activities that contribute to the development of international law? What factors have affected these activities? This article describes the structure of the Arctic Council and its status under international law; analyzes important developments relating to this issue in the period before the 2009 Ministerial Meeting held in Tromsø, Norway; examines the processes in which two legally binding instruments were negotiated and eventually adopted as well as elements common to these agreements; and discusses Arctic Council processes relevant to the development of international law other than treaty negotiations under its auspices.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE RUSSIAN SEGMENT OF THE ARCTIC ZONE AS A REGIONAL MEASUREMENT OF WORLD GEOPOLITICS

2020 ◽  
pp. 73-77
Author(s):  
T.S. Sukhodaeva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
World Economy ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Arctic Zone ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
The World ◽  
Arctic Policy

The article discusses the features of the Arctic zone, its place in the world economy and international relations. The reasons for the intersection of the geopolitical interests of the leading states of the world in this region are revealed. The main directions of scientific and technical cooperation in the development of the Arctic are identified. The role of the Arctic Council in solving the problem of coordinating the interests of various actors in the region is shown. The strategic necessity of the development of the Arctic as a region free of conflicts and rivalry is substantiated. The analysis of the Russian Arctic policy and mechanisms for its implementation. The author substantiates the conclusion that the development of the Russian Arctic zone can become a driving force for the qualitative growth of the national economy, the formation of the country's competitive advantages in the long term, as well as maintaining the global ecological balance and stability.

scholarly journals Is It Time for a Reset in Arctic Governance?

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 4497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oran R. Young
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
The United States ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Peripheral Region ◽  
Great Power ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Ground Zero ◽  
Regime Complex

Conditions in the Arctic today differ from those prevailing during the 1990s in ways that have far-reaching implications for the architecture of Arctic governance. What was once a peripheral region regarded as a zone of peace has turned into ground zero for climate change on a global scale and a scene of geopolitical maneuvering in which Russia is flexing its muscles as a resurgent great power, China is launching economic initiatives, and the United States is reacting defensively as an embattled but still potent hegemon. This article explores the consequences of these developments for Arctic governance and specifically for the role of the Arctic Council. The article canvasses options for adjusting the council’s membership and its substantive remit. It pays particular attention to opportunities for the council to play a role in managing the increasingly complex Arctic regime complex.

Debates over the Role of the Arctic Council

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torbjørn Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council

scholarly journals Revisiting Russian Presidency in the Arctic Council

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 62-68
Author(s):  
Valery Zhuravel ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Shift Method ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Arctic Regions ◽  
Difficult Time ◽  
Environmental Requirements ◽  
And Control

The article notes that in the period of preparation for the chairmanship of the Arctic Council (2021–2023), in order to further develop the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, new strategic documents, a package of benefits and preferences for business development were prepared and approved, measures were taken for the sustainable development of indigenous peoples, and to increase the role of science in Arctic research. The author draws attention to some unsolved problems of socio-economic development of the Arctic region (outflow of the population, especially young people; shortcomings of the organization of the shift method of work and centralized coordination and control of state orders and supplies to the population of hard-to-reach Arctic regions; violation of environmental requirements). It is emphasized that Russia assumes the post of chairman of the Arctic Council at a difficult time: the coronavirus pandemic, political tensions in relations with the West, including on issues of management and security of the Arctic, economic sanctions from the Arctic states, which creates certain difficulties in the activities in the Arctic direction. The author concludes that the developed program, the plan of main events, the activity of ministries and departments in the next 2 years will allow us to successfully cope with the chairmanship, show our foreign colleagues all the best that is available in the Russian Far North, and contribute to the strengthening of the Arctic Council.

Whither the Arctic? Conflict or cooperation in the circumpolar north

Polar Record ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oran R. Young
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Excellent Opportunity ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Circumpolar North ◽  
State Actors ◽  
Biophysical Changes

ABSTRACTBiophysical changes underway in the Arctic have stirred a remarkable surge of interest and concern in many quarters, including non-Arctic states and non-state actors. This article explores the implications of these developments for the pursuit of governance in the region. Many reactions to this situation are more alarmist than alarming. But recent developments do provide an excellent opportunity to reassess the effectiveness of existing arrangements and to enquire about the need for new forms of governance. The article does not support the claims of those who argue that a comprehensive, legally binding Arctic treaty (or even an Arctic Charter) is required at this time. Rather, it argues the case for a somewhat messier but more effective tripartite governance complex featuring an agreement to set aside without extinguishing claims to extended continental shelf jurisdiction on the part of the littoral states, an effort to adjust the character of the Arctic Council to meet emerging needs in the Arctic, and a push to devise issue-specific regulative regimes to address concerns involving shipping, fishing, and off-shore oil and gas development.

A new era in the Arctic Council's external relations? Broader consequences of the Nuuk observer rules for Arctic governance

Polar Record ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Graczyk ◽  
Timo Koivurova
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
European Union ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
New Era ◽  
Protection Strategy ◽  
External Relations ◽  
External Actors

ABSTRACTThis article studies the role of observers under both the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS) and the Arctic Council (AC) before the Nuuk ministerial meeting that took place in May 2011. In this meeting, the AC actors were able to find consensus on criteria for admitting new observers, an issue that has received much media attention, given that China and the European Union, for example, are queuing to become observers in the AC. It is of importance to examine the content of these recently adopted Nuuk observer rules and their potential to impact decision-making on whether the external actors can be included as observers. Moreover, this article studies how, if at all, the Nuuk observer rules might affect the position of the AC in the broader setting of circumpolar cooperation.

scholarly journals Current and Prospective Roles of the Arctic Council System within the Context of the Law of the Sea

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.J. Molenaar
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Institutional Structure ◽  
Search And Rescue ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
The Law ◽  
Maritime Search And Rescue

Abstract This article examines the current and prospective roles of the Arctic Council System (ACS) within the context of the (international) law of the sea. Its first part focuses on the role of regional cooperation under the law of sea, with special attention to the way in which the pacta tertiis principle has shaped some regional regimes. The second part examines current features of the Arctic Council, including its mandate and main approaches, participation and institutional structure. The new concept of the ACS is offered to clarify the connection between the Arctic Council and the 2011 Agreement on Cooperation in Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic and future legally binding instruments negotiated under the Council’s auspices, but not adopted by it. The article concludes with a synthesis of the current and prospective roles of the ACS under the law of the sea.

scholarly journals THE LEGAL CHARACTER AND STATUS OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF INTERNATIONAL LAW OF THE SEA AND THE ARCTIC. THE ROLE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE ARCTIC COUNCIL AND ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 249-263
Author(s):  
Filip Farmas vel Król
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
External Agents ◽  
Legal Character

This article describes the legal character and status of the Arctic Council, focusing on the Council’s structure and powers in regional cooperation in the Arctic and elaborating on the decision-making process and the role of the indigenous peoples, both currently and from the point of view of suggested new legislation. The Arctic Council is also presented as a body in the tangible world, where other states and organisations may have a certain extent of influence over the Council’s capabilities. China and the European Union are good examples of such external agents. The aim of this article is to analyse the role of the indigenous peoples and their organisations in the Arctic Council. Te presence of representative bodies of the indigenous peoples within the frameworkof the Arctic Council is considered significant. I hold the view that an extensive range of powers should be granted to the organisations representing the indigenous peoples within the Arctic Council. My article elaborates on the details of these powers and their significance.

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