Policy brief | Arctic boundaries and Arctic shipping

Although “the Arctic region” is a well- established concept, various international and national governing bodies use unique, specific definitions that reflect their focus. Each draws different boundaries for the terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments that extend across northern North America, northern Europe, northern Asia, and the expanses of ocean in between.

The choice of an Arctic geographical scope has significant implications for the effectiveness and the level of ambition of environmental governance.

Key messages:

• The geographic boundaries set out in the IMO’s International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (the Polar Code) are too narrow to address pollution from shipping and other environmental impacts in Arctic waters.
• The Polar Code’s initial focus in defining Arctic waters was on safe navigation in hazardous, icy sea waters rather than on environmental impacts.
• Because shipping traffic in and near the Arctic is increasing, causing the levels of pollution from ships to grow, it is time for the IMO to adopt a broader definition of the Arctic’s boundaries. Relevant examples include the definitions developed by the Arctic Council, namely the Arctic Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs), the Arctic Human Development Report (AHDR), and the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP).

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