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GOVERNANCE

Governance is about how decisions are made, who makes them, how they’re applied and who’s accountable.

As the climate crisis causes the sea ice in the Arctic to melt and new areas to open up, the region and its communities are facing unprecedented changes and serious threats. As a rapidly changing area, the Arctic needs rules that can adapt as needed.

Why are we concerned about Arctic governance?

Good governance is important to protect unique Arctic ecosystems. Migrating animals cross international borders, so collaboration among Arctic states and Indigenous Peoples in the region is essential.

Good governance is also crucial for the four million or so people who live in the Arctic. While the Arctic offers globally significant mining, oil and gas reserves, and opportunities for increasing shipping traffic, these economic activities will have disastrous consequences if they take place without a full understanding of the impacts on people and nature.

Because the Arctic is ground zero for climate change, the need to work together has never been more intense, and it is complicated by the region’s sparse population, limited resources and political challenges.

The Arctic is a region characterized by harsh conditions, limited infrastructure and a variety of decentralized governance models—all of which contribute to a lack of consistent and adequate environmental management Arctic-wide.

National governments control their own territories, including their coastlines and territorial waters, extending 12 nautical miles (22.2 kilometres) out to sea. The rest of the Arctic Ocean comes under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Under UNCLOS, countries have complete control over the resources in their Exclusive Economic Zones, which stretch 200 nautical miles (371 kilometres) from their coastlines.

To put it simply, on their lands, in their territorial waters, and in their zones, national governments decide what happens in the Arctic.

Beyond these boundaries are the Arctic’s High Seas, where the lack of governance is clear except in a few areas. Access to mineral resources under and on the sea floor is controlled by the International Seabed Authority. Global shipping rules are set by the International Maritime Organization. Fish and other living marine resources in international waters fall under various international mechanisms. The generic rules of the UNCLOS are not specific enough.

 

The Arctic Council

Created in 1996, the Arctic Council is an international forum for discussion among recognized member states and representatives of the Arctic’s Indigenous Peoples. It also admits other nations and some prominent intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including WWF, as formal observers. The Council addresses activities that require regional collaboration, like responding to oil spills, conducting search and rescue operations, creating networks of protected areas, understanding the impacts of climate change, and setting the principles for responsible Arctic stewardship.

Despite some challenging situations, the Arctic Council’s work has largely been an extraordinary success story up to now, bringing together Arctic states (as members), Arctic Indigenous representative organizations (as permanent participants, virtually on par with the member states), and non-Arctic actors (as observers).

Today, the links between the Arctic and the rest of the world are more interwoven than ever. International cooperation through fora such as the Arctic Council play a pivotal role in improving the lives of the people who live in the Arctic. We hope that this joint work, paused in March 2022 due to the Ukraine conflict, will resume in some way. To reverse nature loss and share resources fairly, now and in the future, good governance is essential.

 

What does good Arctic governance look like?

© Wim van Passel / WWF

Make governance in the central Arctic Ocean effective and accountable

The central Arctic Ocean, surrounded by Eurasia and North America, is the world’s smallest ocean. It is home to unique species that will not adapt easily to a warmer Arctic.

We must get governance of the central Arctic Ocean right now, given the swift pace of change and looming onslaught of exploitation from within and outside the region. This governance must establish concrete steps for preserving ecosystems, and it must be enforced through binding mechanisms and safeguards.

© Linnea Nordström / Arctic Council Secretariat

An example of good governance

In 2018, officials from the so-called Arctic Five—Canada, Norway, Russia, Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland and the Faroe Islands) and the United States—signed an agreement with major fishing powers (Iceland, Japan, South Korea, China and the European Union) restricting fishing in the central Arctic Ocean.

All agreed that no commercial fishing would take place for a period of 16 years to allow time for science to gain a better understanding of the area’s ecosystems and Arctic nations to establish ap[SCI2] propriate conservation and management measures. In 2021, the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean entered into force.

 

WHAT IS THE WWF ARCTIC PROGRAMME DOING?

By 2030, ways to achieve effective governance of the central Arctic Ocean are defined and supported by all stakeholders, and the Arctic Council ensures effective governance in the Arctic.

© Coast guard news / Flickr

Strengthening governance of the Central Arctic Ocean

WWF is committed to strengthening Arctic governance by supporting constructive dialogue and exploring options for policymakers to ensure effective stewardship, ecosystem-based management and sustainable development in the central Arctic Ocean.

 

© Kaisa Sirén / Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Holding the Arctic Council to a high standard

WWF’s Arctic Programme participates within the Arctic Council as an observer. Programme staff attend council meetings, propose projects and engage in their implementation. We push for stronger Arctic conservation and response to other environmental and climate challenges in all council decision-making.

 

News, features and reports about Arctic governance