Polar Law after the Invasion of Ukraine

• Published in: Nordicum-Mediterraneum
• Main Author: Rachael Lorna Johnstone
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The University of Akureyri 2023
• Subjects: polar law; arctic law; antarctic law; ukraine; indigenous peoples; arctic council; Social sciences (General); H1-99; Human ecology. Anthropogeography; GF1-900; Antarctic; Arctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Arctic Council; Law of the Sea
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.33112/nm.18.2.5; https://doaj.org/article/792611cd1b6842969bca62adbe88dd04

Russian aggression against Ukraine has triggered doubts about the viability of international law to address complex problems, including in the polar regions. Nevertheless, this article demonstrates that international legal approaches remain important tools to address challenges and disputes in polar law. The article argues that international law remains of critical importance for the peaceful governance of the Poles. It illustrates this argument with a review of, amongst other institutions, the functioning of the Arctic Council, the Antarctic Treaty System, selected issues in the law of the sea and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.