The Arctic is particularly hard hit by the effects of climate change.
The Arctic is particularly hard hit by the effects of climate change. istock/ansonmiao

Headline: Arctic Governance

Temperatures in the Arctic are rising at a rate twice the global average and the region is particularly hard hit by the impacts of global climate change. But a changing Arctic climate could also have dramatic effects at the global level.

The Arctic Governance research group is particularly focused on improving the scientific understanding of the interactions between global change and local Arctic contexts, and specifically the political, legal and economic interdependencies between processes, actors and systems within and beyond the Arctic Circle. The researchers work closely with experts from the natural sciences in order to better understand the interrelationships between natural and societal processes. Particular attention is given to the interaction between global and regional policies. Using the Russian Arctic as an example, the team studies how global processes influence regional and local approaches to sustainable development. The group also aims to develop new governance concepts by comparing the Arctic with other regions.

The group's research also explores the various ways in which interest groups interpret and utilise "facts", especially with respect to as yet untapped natural resources located within the Arctic Circle. To this end, the researchers study the use of narratives relating to "sustainability" and "sustainable development".

The analysis, monitoring, and improvement of local, regional and international governance processes for the Arctic Region is another focus of this research group. In doing so, the researchers pursue a transdisciplinary approach and work closely with stakeholders from the field. A focal point of this research is the work of the Arctic Council and its working group on sustainable development.

read more

Completed Projects

The colourful fishermen’s houses in the village of Qeqertasuaq, Greenland, suggest an idyllic way of life. But the Arctic fishing industry is rife with conflicts among different interest groups. How can they be contained? The ArcticABC project focuses on this question.

Arctic Ocean Ecosystems - Applied Technology, Biological Interactions and Consequences in an Era of Abrupt Climate Change (ArcticABC)

How will the decline in Arctic sea ice affect fish stocks in this region? What are the likely consequences of this development for the regulation of Arctic fisheries? Contributing to the IASS project Global Change and Arctic Sustainable Transformations, this project will examine the stakes of Arctic and non-Arctic actors in Arctic fisheries and assess the existing Arctic fisheries governance framework as to its appropriateness for peaceful and environmentally sustainable management. The project aims to create a better understanding of global-local interconnections between stakeholders within and beyond the Arctic region in the area of fisheries and to identify deficits in the governance of Arctic fisheries.

The Nenets live in the underpopulated and underdeveloped tundra near the Russian Arctic. What can they and other inhabitants of the Arctic expect from the incipient exploitation of the region’s mineral resources? That’s just one of the questions examined by the project Arctic Impact on Weather and Climate (Blue Action).

Arctic Impact on Weather and Climate (Blue-Action)

Climate change is leading to rapid and far-reaching transformations in the Arctic, which is warming at a rate twice the global average. This project analyses how changes to the Arctic climate and a resulting increase in human activities in the region affect the climate and the weather of the entire Northern Hemisphere.

Climate change and economic activities are having adverse effects on the Arctic.

Marine Conservation in the Arctic

The melting of sea ice in the Arctic leads to new opportunities for economic exploitation, but also poses risks to the fragile marine environment. In the research project, the project partners are examining, among other things, the use of Arctic marine resources and the introduction of conservation measures. The project is a cooperation of the research groups "Arctic Governance" and "Ocean Governance".