The Future of the Arctic Council

Abstract

Established in 1996 as a multilateral forum for advancing international cooperation in the Arctic, the Arctic Council (AC) represents the pre-eminent intergovernmental body for addressing social and environmental challenges in an increasingly important region of the world. To investigate whether the Council’s existing structures function adequately in the promotion and advancement of multilateral governance, this chapter synthesizes recent scholarship on the topic. Environmental issues that affect Arctic peoples, lands, waters, and resources require effective cooperation involving state and non-state actors at the local, regional, and global levels. The AC operates accordingly, providing a vital link between governmental and non-governmental groups, but the complexities of international law in the Arctic represent a growing issue for effective multilateral governance. Although the Council has successfully identified and addressed emerging issues through collaborative science-based initiatives, the ongoing issues produced by climate change and resource competition in the Arctic require improvements to the Council’s transparency and commitment to local inhabitants. A motivated AC will continue to address growing issues in the Arctic while serving as a model for future governance bodies and international scientific organizations.