The Arctic is experiencing fast-paced and far-reaching changes associated both with the effects of climate change and with the impacts of changing global economy. Major players are focusing on the prospects for rapid growth in marine shipping, offshore oil and gas development, commercial fishing, and eco-tourism in previously inhospitable areas. Understandably, others are concerned about the likely impacts of such activities on the Arctic’s small and often traditional human communities and on the region’s ecosystems. This has resulted in an explosion of interest in a wide range of governance issues.
The Arctic Governance Project has collected a variety of perspectives and proposals on science-based Arctic governance solutions in its Compendium.
The Project’s leadership and a diverse cross-section of researchers and stakeholders from all eight Arctic nations will subject these proposals to careful scrutiny at the Tromsø Summit in January 2010. Finally, the Project will compile a set of responsible and widely supported policy recommendations. These recommendations will be presented to key policymakers in the national, international and non-governmental sectors to help guide the efforts underway to come to an international consensus on management of Arctic resources.
The project will draw on traditional ecological knowledge and scientific knowledge. It will pay particular attention to opportunities for strengthening existing mechanisms like the Arctic Council.
