Environmental Governance in the Marine Arctic

This chapter presents an overview of the existing institutional and legal framework at the international and regional levels relevant to environmental governance in the marine Arctic. Examples of both formal and informal environmental governance in the Arctic marine area are presented to demonstrate how different approaches can be used to address particular issues. The chapter highlights the complex interplay of approaches applicable at local, regional, and international scales rather than identifying gaps at the sectoral level. It describes the landscape of governance approaches in place in the Arctic to stimulate discussion regarding the future of environmental governance in the marine Arctic. Many existing institutions and governance mechanisms were developed under political and environmental circumstances that were vastly different from today’s reality. As the Arctic is undergoing drastic changes that will spark unprecedented activity in the region, a rethinking of existing structures is required to appropriately address emerging issues.