No abstract

Ongoing changes in the Arctic, primarily related to the region's physical and human environment, as a result of climate change, have both opened up new opportunities and posed threats to the governments and inhabitants of the region. A number of soft-law instruments, with the aim of ensuring the wellbeing of the region and combating the negative challenges of climate change, have been developed since the 1990s. This article will examine the synergy between three existing forms of Arctic soft-law governance in a select number of cases and will, in turn, provide suggestions as to how they may be improved. It will also analyse the motivation behind using soft law mechanisms, as opposed to formal international organisations.

Since the 1990s, various international governance systems have been active in promoting the wellbeing of the northern part of the globe. The Arctic Council, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and the Northern Forum – three profound forms of governance – are in vogue in addressing the challenges faced by peoples residing in the Arctic. Climate change touches upon almost every issue connected to the wellbeing of the Arctic region. It also affects the primary goals and objectives of these governance systems. Over time, each initiative has developed its own climate policy. This article focuses on the climate policies of three soft-law governance systems and examines their role in addressing climate change in the Arctic.