Table Of ContentElizabeth Tedsen · Sandra Cavalieri
R. Andreas Kraemer Editors
Arctic Marine
Governance
Opportunities for
Transatlantic Cooperation
Arctic Marine Governance
Elizabeth Tedsen · Sandra Cavalieri
R. Andreas Kraemer
Editors
Arctic Marine Governance
Opportunities for Transatlantic Cooperation
1 3
Editors
Elizabeth Tedsen Sandra Cavalieri
Ecologic Institute Washington DC R. Andreas Kraemer
Washington DC Ecologic Institute
USA Berlin
Germany
ISBN 978-3-642-38594-0 ISBN 978-3-642-38595-7 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-38595-7
Springer Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London
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Foreword
Nowhere is climate change more visible than in the Arctic, which is a vital and
vulnerable component of the Earth’s environment and climate system. The melt-
ing of Arctic sea ice is progressing rapidly and affecting ecosystems as well as
the traditional livelihoods of indigenous peoples. As climate change and economic
development accelerate in the Arctic region, the European Union is stepping up its
engagement with its Arctic partners to jointly meet the challenge of safeguarding
the environment while ensuring the sustainable development of the Arctic region.
The EU sponsored the Arctic TRANSFORM project (<http://arctic-transform.org>),
the results of which form a basis for this volume. The goal of Arctic TRANSFORM
was to develop transatlantic policy options for supporting adaptation in the marine
Arctic environment, placing a special emphasis on involving a broad range of stake-
holders to address the major climate issues facing the region. Key project objectives
included:
• To promote mutual exchange among EU and US policymakers and stakeholders
on policies and approaches in the Arctic in stakeholder working groups;
• To provide a comparative analysis of existing policies and make recommenda-
tions with substantial buy-in as to how to strengthen cooperation between the
EU and US; and
• To encourage dialogue and thus improve conditions for further transatlan-
tic policy development and more effective protection of the Arctic marine
environment.
Today, as the impacts of climate change become apparent, the need for good
collaboration on preserving the Arctic marine environment is even more pressing
than it was at the time of the project. Enhanced transatlantic cooperation can take
advantage of emerging opportunities for improving protection of the Arctic marine
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environment. Through formal cooperation on policy strategies as well as informal
channels of information sharing, research exchanges, and stakeholder networks, a
strong transatlantic partnership can create a foundation for improved knowledge
and efficient and timely addressing of the challenges ahead.
Helga Schmid
Deputy Secretary General
European External Action Service
Preface
The Arctic region plays an important role in regulating the world’s climate and
also is highly impacted by climate change, with average temperatures rising
almost twice as fast as the rest of the world and sea ice melting much faster than
previously predicted. These rapid changes will have significant impacts on human
activity in the region and on the Arctic marine environment.
Recognizing the importance of these changes, the Arctic TRANSFORM project
was developed to explore the roles of the EU and US in light of the changing cli-
mate and the region’s political and legal complexities. The project sought to pro-
mote exchange between EU and US policymakers and stakeholders on approaches
in the Arctic, provide comparative analyses of existing policies, make recom-
mendations as how to strengthen cooperation between the EU and US, encourage
dialogue, and thus improve conditions for further transatlantic policy develop-
ment and more effective protection of the Arctic marine environment. The pro-
ject was funded by the European Commission (formerly DG External Relations,
now European External Action Service) and led by Ecologic Institute, along with
the Arctic Center, the Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea, and the Heinz
Center.
Four years later, this book begins where Arctic TRANSFORM left off, address-
ing the new and significant changes and developments in the marine Arctic with
updates, new policy recommendations, and additional topics to better reflect the
current governance environment.
Within four years, the Arctic region has undergone substantial changes. The
impacts of climate change are swiftly altering the landscape and ushering in new
activity and actors. Likewise, the policy environment has also undergone transfor-
mations, including modifications to adapt existing frameworks to the changed and
changing Arctic conditions, as described in detail throughout this book.
A look to the future leaves little doubt that this rapid pace of change will
continue—for the environment and policy. For instance, in May 2013—after
the time of writing of this volume—the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in
Kiruna is slated to take up a wide range of critical governance issues, including
a legally binding agreement on marine oil preparedness and response, updating
PAME’s Arctic Marine Strategic Plan, and releasing reports for the Arctic Ocean
Review and Arctic Biodiversity Assessment. Most important in the transatlantic
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viii Preface
context, the meeting will also address the EU’s application to become a permanent
observer of the Arctic Council. In addition, in 2015, the US will assume chairman-
ship of the Arctic Council.
While such developments may continue to further alter the Arctic governance
landscape, we believe that the background, principles, and discussion presented
herein, do and will continue to promote better understanding of marine Arctic gov-
ernance needs and options and help to lay a foundation for future effective envi-
ronmental governance.
March 2013 E. Tedsen
S. Cavalieri
R. Andreas Kraemer
Acknowledgments
The editors thank and recognize the contributions of the Arctic TRANSFORM
project to this book. The Arctic TRANSFORM project was funded by the
European Commission (formerly DG External Relations, now European External
Action Service) and led by Ecologic Institute, along with the Arctic Centre,
the Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea, and the Heinz Center. The
project was enriched by discussions and outcomes from five thematic working
groups, which engaged more than 50 experts from multiple disciplines on Arctic
indigenous peoples, environmental governance, fisheries, offshore hydrocarbon
activities, and shipping. In particular, the authors recognize the contribution of the
Co-Chairs of each working group as follows:
• Environmental Governance Working Group: Dr. Stuart Chapin (University
of Alaska, Fairbanks) and Dr. Neil Hamilton (WWF Arctic International
Programme).
• Fisheries Working Group: Ambassador David Balton (US Department of
State, Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science) and Kjartan Hoydal (North
East Atlantic Fisheries Commission).
• Indigenous Peoples Working Group: Patricia Cochran (Inuit Circumpolar
Conference) and Dr. Mark Nuttall (University of Alberta, University of Oulu).
• Offshore Hydrocarbon Working Group: Dr. Cutler Cleveland (Boston
University) and Kevin O'Carroll (OSPAR Offshore Industry Committee).
• Shipping Working Group: Dr. Lawson Brigham (US Arctic Research
Commission) and Rene Piil Pedersen (Danish Shipowners' Association).
The editors thank Lucy Smith and Erika Sulik at Ecologic Institute for their care-
ful attention and support in finalizing this book.
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Contents
Part I The Arctic Environment
1 Introduction to the Arctic ..................................... 3
Erik J. Molenaar, Timo Koivurova, Elizabeth Tedsen,
Andrew Reid, and Kamrul Hossain
2 The Arctic Marine Environment ............................... 21
Arne Riedel
3 Environmental Governance in the Marine Arctic ................. 45
Susanah Stoessel, Elizabeth Tedsen, Sandra Cavalieri, and Arne Riedel
4 Arctic Indigenous Peoples and the Challenge of Climate Change .... 71
Adam Stepien, Timo Koivurova, Anna Gremsperger, and Henna Niemi
Part II Impacts and Activities in the Marine Arctic
5 Status and Reform of International Arctic Fisheries Law .......... 103
Erik J. Molenaar
6 Status and Reform of International Arctic Shipping Law .......... 127
Erik J. Molenaar
7 Understanding Risks Associated with Offshore Hydrocarbon
Development ............................................... 159
Kamrul Hossain, Timo Koivurova, and Gerald Zojer
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Description:The Arctic region plays an important role in regulating the world’s climate and is also highly impacted by climate change, with average temperatures rising almost twice as fast as the rest of the world and sea ice melting much faster than previously predicted. These rapid changes will have signifi
