Climate Change in the Arctic Region and Adaptation to its Consequences: International Legal Dimension

Climate change is facilitating new economic opportunities in the Arctic, previously hindered by climatic conditions, thereby demanding intensified regional governance. This research identifies key challenges and proposes approaches for evolving the legal framework for climate action in the Arctic.The study analyzes the interplay between global and regional climate governance regimes, scrutinizing the role of Arctic states in developing treatybased mechanisms and initiatives within the Arctic Council. While regional regulatory frameworks are emerging in the EU, Asia, and Africa, they typically reinforce, rather than fragment, the universal climate regime. Although Arctic Council member states recognize the critical importance of coordinated climate action, their cooperation has been confined to nonbinding recommendatory instruments that outline general aspirations. Consequently, the governance of climate change response in the Arctic, both globally and regionally, maintains a high degree of national autonomy over necessary measures and explicitly negates the need for a special treaty. On a positive note, the working groups of the Arctic Council have demonstrated considerable success in amassing essential scientific and empirical data on regional climate change.