The Arctic is an increasingly important region faced with major challenges caused not only by the effects of climate change, but also by a growing interest in its living and non-living resources, its attraction as a new destination for tourism, and as a route for navigation. It is not only the eight Arctic States that have paid an increased level of attention to the region; several non-Arctic actors from Asia and Europe also seek to gain more influence in the High North. At the same time, the evolving law and policy architecture for the Arctic region has recently played a more prominent role in the political and academic debate. Unlike Antarctica, where the coherent Antarctic Treaty System governs international cooperation, the legal regime of Arctic affairs is based on public international law, domestic law, and 'soft law'. These three pillars intersect and interact making Arctic governance multi-faceted and highly complex.
This book provides an analytical introduction, a chronology of legally relevant events, and a selection of essential materials covering a wide range of issues-eg delineation and delimitation of maritime boundaries, environmental protection, indigenous peoples' rights, shipping, and fisheries. Included are multilateral and bilateral treaties, UN documents, official statements, informal instruments, domestic laws, and diplomatic correspondence.

Kristina Schönfeldt is a researcher and PhD student at the Institute for Public International Law at the University of Bonn.

PART 1: ARCTIC POLICY
Arctic Coastal States
Other Arctic States
Non-Arctic States and other Actors
PART 2: ARCTIC COOPERATION
Multilateral Cooperation
Bilateral Cooperation
PART 3: MARITIME ZONES-LAW OF THE SEA RELATED LEGISLATION OF THE ARCTIC COASTAL STATES
Canada
Denmark (including Greenland and Faroe Islands)
Norway (including Jan Mayen Island)
Russian Federation
United States
PART 4: DELIMITATION AGREEMENTS
Norway-USSR/Russian Federation
Denmark (Greenland)-Iceland-Norway (Jan Mayen)
Denmark (Faroe Islands)-Iceland-Norway
Denmark (Greenland)-Canada
Denmark (Greenland)-Iceland
Denmark (Greenland)-Norway (Svalbard)
United States-USSR/Russian Federation
PART 5: NATIONAL SUBMISSIONS TO THE COMMISSION ON THE LIMITS OF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF CONCERNING ARCTIC TERRITORIAL CLAIMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Russian Federation
Denmark
Norway
Canada
PART 6: ARCTIC SHIPPING
PART 7: ARCTIC FISHERIES
International Agreements
Policy Documents and National Instruments
PART 8: PROTECTION OF THE ARCTIC ENVIRONMENT
International Instruments
Miscellaneous Policy Documents and National Instruments
PART 9: PROTECTION OF ARCTIC INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
International (Draft) Treaties
Policy Documents
PART 10: ARCTIC DISPUTES
Northwest Passage
Northern Sea Route
Svalbard Archipelago [Spitsbergen]
Hans Island
Sverdrup Islands
Bering Sea
Beaufort Sea