The Arctic Waters and the Northwest Passage: A Final Revisit
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the two possible legal bases for Canada's claim that the waters of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago are internal waters: a historic title and straight baselines, and addressed the issue of the possible internationalization of the Northwest Passage, if Canada does not take preventive measures.
Abstract: Climate change has reduced the extent and thickness of sea ice in the Arctic, making international shipping in the Northwest Passage a virtual certainty in the foreseeable future. Such future shipping raises the question of whether the Passage is or might become an international strait, with the consequent right of transit passage. This article examines the two possible legal bases for Canada's claim that the waters of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago are internal waters: a historic title and straight baselines. It also addresses the issue of the possible internationalization of the Passage, if Canada does not take preventive measures. Some such measures are recommended in the last part of the article.
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TL;DR: How a changing climate will affect several economic sectors including the hydroelectric, oil and gas, and mining industries as well as infrastructure and transportation, both marine and freshwater is reviewed.
Abstract: Northern Canada is projected to experience major changes to its climate, which will have major implications for northern economic development. Some of these, such as mining and oil and gas development, have experienced rapid expansion in recent years and are likely to expand further, partly as the result of indirect effects of changing climate. This article reviews how a changing climate will affect several economic sectors including the hydroelectric, oil and gas, and mining industries as well as infrastructure and transportation, both marine and freshwater. Of particular importance to all sectors are projected changes in the cryosphere, which will create both problems and opportunities. Potential adaptation strategies that could be used to minimize the negative impacts created by a climate change are also reviewed.
137 citations
Book•
16 Apr 2015TL;DR: The International Law of the Sea (ILoS) as mentioned in this paper has been extensively revised to include up-to-date coverage of essential issues of the international law of the sea, such as the headline debate of migrant movement across the seas, and the definition of islands in light of the South China Sea Arbitration.
Abstract: This new edition has been fully revised to include up-to-date coverage of essential issues of the international law of the sea. Covering a number of new and important issues, such as the headline debate of migrant movement across the seas, and the definition of islands in light of the South China Sea Arbitration, it also includes chapters on conservation of marine living resources and biological diversity, protection of the marine environment, and international peace and security at sea, as well as building further on such topics as the impact of climate change on the oceans. A precise and readable book, with many figures and tables, The International Law of the Sea continues to be the best choice for students wanting to understand the law of the sea.
111 citations
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a co-authorship statement, acknowledgements, and a table of the authors' co-authors' coauthors and acknowledgements for their work.
Abstract: ............................................................................................................................. ii Co-Authorship Statement .................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................. v Table of
105 citations
Dissertation•
13 Sep 2018
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a model of the cooperation in Arctique, a region of the world with a unique structure unique mettant en avant une action multiniveaux and multi-acteurs en gardant un equilibre entre hard law and soft law.
Abstract: L’interet pour l’Arctique s’est developpe a travers l’environnement et les changements climatiques, avec avant tout la question du rechauffement climatique, qui bouleversent grandement cette region. Ces evolutions amenent aussi bien de nombreuses menaces que des opportunites importantes, qui demandent toutes une cooperation approfondie pour y repondre. La protection de l’environnement, l’acces et la gestion des ressources (naturelles, energetiques, halieutiques, etc.), l’utilisation des routes maritimes, la delimitation des limites maritimes et limites exterieures du plateau continental, le respect des droits de l’homme et des droits des peuples autochtones, l’aspect strategique et militaire sont des exemples des nombreux enjeux qui existent en Arctique. La cooperation arctique, qui se structure de maniere plus prononcee depuis la fin de la Guerre froide, se trouve devant des defis importants qui demandent son approfondissement. Tous ces enjeux depassent la seule cooperation entre les Etats arctiques, d’autant plus que les consequences et les interets presents sont mondiaux. A la multitude de domaines de cooperation s’ajoute donc une congruence d’acteurs, arctiques et non-arctiques avec, de maniere classique, les organisations internationales, les organisations non-gouvernementales et les multinationales, mais egalement les regions, les organisations interparlementaires, les peuples autochtones ou encore les associations scientifiques. La complexite de la situation se traduit au niveau de la cooperation, qui fait face aux tensions aussi bien entre les acteurs arctiques qu’entre les acteurs arctiques et non-arctiques. Deux processus contradictoires semblent donc structurer la cooperation avec d’une part une regionalisation et d’autre part une internationalisation. La cooperation entre les acteurs arctiques se bâtit ainsi autour de nombreuses institutions internationales dont la structure et le role sont voues a evoluer, avec comme institution centrale le Conseil de l’Arctique, tout en se fondant sur des cooperations internationales globales, avec comme instrument essentiel la Convention sur le droit de la mer de 1982. La cooperation arctique semble constituer un modele interessant reposant sur une flexibilite qui doit permettre une adaptation, d’autant plus importante dans une region exposee a des evolutions rapides. Elle utilise une structure unique mettant en avant une action multiniveaux et multi-acteurs en gardant un equilibre entre hard law et soft law. Si la cooperation arctique structure une veritable region arctique avec une importance grandissante sur l’arene internationale, les liens entre le monde et cette region restent incertains. L’ouverture aux acteurs extra-arctiques est necessaire, mais fait face a la reticence de certains acteurs arctiques. L’Arctique se pose comme un nouvel objet des relations internationales et peut meme en devenir un acteur, mais doit repondre aux dangers qui peuvent exister pour la cooperation dans cette region, dangers qui semblent avant tout venir de causes exogenes. La cooperation arctique necessite donc une analyse approfondie des enjeux qu’elle presente ainsi que des contradictions et paradoxes qui semblent y exister. Cette these vise ainsi a etudier la cooperation arctique en mettant en exergue ses mecanismes et specificites tout en analysant les relations qu’elle peut entretenir avec les acteurs extra-arctiques et la maniere dont elle s’integre dans les relations internationales.
86 citations
TL;DR: The notion of permanency and stability on which the ideal of the sovereign, territorial state historically has rested has been challenged by climate change as discussed by the authors, which is challenging the notions of permanence and stability.
Abstract: Climate change is challenging the notions of permanency and stability on which the ideal of the sovereign, territorial state historically has rested. Nowhere is this challenge more pressing than in...
81 citations
Cites background from "The Arctic Waters and the Northwest..."
...As Canadian jurist Donat Pharand has written, when arguing for drawing straight baselines around Canada’s coasts, “The quasi-permanency of the ice over the enclosed waters bolsters the physical unity of land and sea” (Pharand 2007, 19)....
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