Oceans cover over 70% of the world’s surface. Many of the important and pressing questions of global environmental health are related to ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction and regulatory regimes. Furthermore, many states lack capacity to enforce national regulations and international agreements/best practices within their own jurisdictions. Stepping in to fill the gaps, from the U.N Global Compact to domestic efforts, the private sector is widely recognized as both an important actor in global governance and a target object of global governance.

Arctic environmental governance also means ocean governance. As global warming is melting the sea ice and allowing commercial exploitation of previously inaccessible areas, the private sector and non-state actors have played increasingly active roles in shaping regional circumpolar governance. The POLGOV research project has focused on researching how and when non-state actors shape environmental regulatory mechanisms and will be presenting the project’s key findings at this side event.

The side event will present POLGOV research findings and a sneak preview of the ‘Arctic Environmental Responsibility Index’ (AERI, a ranking Arctic extractive businesses based on input from the members of the International Panel on Arctic Environmental Responsibility). The side event will also facilitate a broader panel and audience discussion on Arctic and ocean governance.

List of speakers and topics (in order):

  • Prof. Elana Wilson Rowe, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) - Chair’s introduction: Private actors and Arctic governance
  • Dr. Svein Rottem, Fridtjof Nansen Institute - Private actors and the case of oil spill prevention, preparedness and response
  • Christian Prip, Fridtjof Nansen Institute - Policy networks and Arctic biodiversity
  • Prof. Indra Overland, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) Arctic Environmental - Responsibility Index: concept and communication strategy

Panel discussion and audience Q&A (30 minutes)

  • Dr. Michael Denison, BP
  • Racher Kallander, Kallander and Associates
  • Prof. Anatoli Bourmistrov, Nord University
  • Dr. Ilan Kelman, University College London
  • Dr. Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox, Fox Consulting (Northwest Territories, Canada)

Organised by Arctic Frontiers, FNI and NUPI.

More information about this side event can be found here.