International Law and Arctic Governance and Sustainable Transport Options for the Global North

Abstract

The international law of the sea provides a legal framework that contributes to the transition of the maritime transport sector towards more sustainability and the replacement of fossil fuels by more climate and environment-friendly means of propulsion. In the Arctic, local communities are particularly affected by climate change and environmental degradation, but they also depend on maritime transport. In this text, the role of Arctic governance research, in particular Ocean governance research, in the pursuit of sustainability in Arctic transport is highlighted. The emphasis will be on the practical reality in the Arctic and the role of public international law.

Keywords: Arctic, governance, law of the sea, air law, road, railway, research, Greenland, Lapland, Canada, Finland, Russia

JEL Classification: K33