International Law and the Arctic

Climate change and rising oil prices have thrust the Arctic to the top of the foreign policy agenda and raised difficult issues of sovereignty, security and environmental protection. Improved access for shipping and resource development is leading to new international rules on safety, pollution prevention and emergency response. Around the Arctic, maritime boundary disputes are being negotiated and resolved, and new international institutions, such as the Arctic Council, are mediating deep-rooted tensions between Russia and NATO and between nation states and indigenous peoples. International Law and the Arctic explains these developments and reveals a strong trend towards international cooperation and law-making. It thus contradicts the widespread misconception that the Arctic is an unregulated zone of potential conflict. 'This book is an accessible and thorough analysis of the current state of play in the Central Arctic Ocean and its five bordering coastal states, an area where the combination of melting sea-ice and the growing demand for oil and gas has increased international interest in resource exploration, shipping rights and environmental protection. Written with passion and first-hand experience of the subject, International Law and the Arctic reminds us that we cannot ignore the importance of the Arctic to Canada and all its people.' Donner Prize Jury 'By situating legal instruments and norms within the region's complex politics, diverse cultures, emergent economic sectors, and increasingly dynamic geophysical environment, Michael Byers has written an accessible but thorough guide to the region.' Philip E. Steinberg, Durham University 'This is a very informative and comprehensive book about contemporary international law as interpreted and applied to the Arctic region. Its components, including chapters on territorial issues, the delimitation of continental shelves, and the regulation of growing economic activities in a changing environment, make it both timely and of great intellectual and practical demand.' Alexander N. Vylegzhanin, Moscow State Institute of International Relations 'Michael Byers' impressive analysis of the legal issues pertaining to the Arctic is a must-read for everyone concerned with the future of this increasingly important region.' Geir Ulfstein, University of Oslo1. Territory; 2. Maritime boundaries; 3. Beaufort Sea boundary; 4. Extended continental shelves; 5. Arctic straits; 6. Environmental protection; 7. Indigenous peoples; 8. Security.