The Arctic Region

Arctic Policies, Security Strategies, Agreements, and Reports

Each Arctic state has developed its own Arctic policy. Depending on the nature of interests of each Arctic state a single policy may also include a security strategy or other additional documents. Besides Arctic states some other Arctic actors have developed their own Arctic policies and strategies. This section also includes a list of highlighted Arctic agreements. All content is downloadable.

Arctic Policies

The Eight Arctic States each publishes a national policy pertaining to the Arctic and – reflecting the rate of development in the region – these are updated relatively frequently. A few of the Indigenous Permanent Participants - such as the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) or the Saami Council - have published their own policies as do non-Arctic states - such as China, Japan and the United Kingdom – and international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) or the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The following provides a list of up-to-date relevant policies for the Arctic region issued by Arctic States, Indigenous Peoples Organizations, Non-Arctic States, and International Organizations.

Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework

Canada
2019

An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic

European Union
2016

The Faroe Islands in the Arctic

Faroe Islands
2022

Finland's Strategy for Arctic Policy

Finland
2021

[France's polar strategy for 2030: Only available in French]

France
2022

[The Great Arctic Challenge National Arctic Roadmap: Only available in French]

France
2016

French Arctic Initiative 2015-2020

France
2015

Germany's Arctic Policy Guidlines

Germany
2018

Germany's Arctic policy guidelines

Germany
2013

Circumpolar Inuit Protocols for Equitable and Ethical Engagement

ICC
2022

A Circumpolar Inuit Declaration on Resource Development Principles in Inuit Nunaat 2011

ICC
2011

Inuit Arctic Policy

ICC
2010

International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code)

IMO
2016

Iceland's Policy on Matters Concerning the Arctic Region

Iceland
2021

India's Arctic Policy. Building a Partnership for Sustainable Development

India
2022

India and the Arctic

India
2016

Towards an Italian Strategy for the Arctic National Guidelines

Italy
2015

Japan's Arctic Policy

Japan
2015

Kingdom of Denmark Strategy for the Arctic 2011-2020

Kingdom of Denmark
2011

The Norwegian Government's Arctic Policy

Norway
2021

An Arctic policy for young people

Norway
2020

China's Arctic Policy

PRC
2018

Arctic Connections: Scotland's Arctic Policy Framework

Scotland
2019

2050 Polar Vision Statement

South Korea
2018

Arctic Policy of the Republic of Korea

South Korea
2013

Guidelines for a Spanish Polar Strategy

Spain
nd

Sweden's strategy for the Arctic region

Sweden
2020

Sweden’s strategy for the Arctic region

Sweden
2011

Swiss Polar Research - Pioneering Spirit, Passion and Excellence

Switzerland
2015

The Netherlands' Polar Strategy 2021-2025 Prepared for Change

The Netherlands
2021

Pole Position - NL 2.0. Strategy for the Netherlands Polar Programme 2016-2020

The Netherlands
2016

Policy framework. The Netherlands and the Polar Regions, 2011-2015

The Netherlands
2011

The Sámi Arctic Strategy

The Saami Council
2019

National Strategy for the Arctic Region

USA
2022

aBlueArctic. A Strategic Blueprint for the Arctic. Department of the Navy

USA
2021

Arctic Strategy. The Department of the Air Force

USA
2020

2019 Department of Defense (DoD) Arctic Strategy

USA
2019

2016 US DoD Arctic Strategy

USA
2016

National Strategy for the Arctic Region

USA
2013

Homeland Security Presidential Directive 25: Arctic Region Policy

USA
2009

Beyond the Ice. UK policy towards the Arctic

United Kingdom
2018

Arctic Security Strategies

Some of the Arctic States issue separate documents concerning security issues in the Arctic region. This section collects security strategies and policies which exist up to date.

Sweden's strategy for the Arctic region

Sweden
2020

Finland's Strategy for Arctic Policy

Finland
2021

National Strategy for the Arctic Region

USA
2022

NATO and Security in the Arctic. Report

NATO
2017

Strategy for Developing the Russian Arctic Zone and Ensuring National Security through 2035

Russia
2020

Strong, Secure, Engaged - Canada's Defense Policy

Canada
2017

Iceland's Policy on Matters Concerning the Arctic Region

Iceland
2021

Foreign and Security Policy Strategy

Kingdom of Denmark
2022

Norway's Arctic Strategy - between geopolitics and social development

Norway
2017

Arctic Relevant International Agreements

Some international agreements and declarations have been specifically designed for addressing issues concerning the Arctic, while several others apply globally but are particularly relevant in the region. Analysis of these both hard and soft law instruments along with other disciplines, is a key for understanding Arctic Governance and Cooperation.

Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation

2017

Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo convention)

1991

The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

1946

IMO – International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code)

2014

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants​

2001

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

1965

Declaration on the Establishment of The Arctic Council (Ottawa Declaration)

1996

Paris Agreement

2015

C169 - Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169)

1989

Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic (SAR or Arctic Search and Rescue Agreement)

2011

UNEP Minamata Convention on Mercury

2013

Ilulissat Declaration

2008

Convention on Biological Diversity

1992

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

2007

International Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean

2018

Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic (MOSPA Agreement)

2013

Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution

1979

Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto Protocol)

1997

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

1992

Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears

1973

International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments

2004

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or Washington Convention)

1973

Svalbard Treaty

1920

Fairbanks Declaration

2017

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

1966

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

1982

Selected Reports

Following is a selection of useful reports regarding diverse Arctic topics, some of which are Pan – Arctic and international in nature while others are very specific to Iceland in the context of the Arctic. Some of this section is based on material derived from these reports. For newcomers to Arctic issues, we recommend starting with the Arctic Human Development Report from 2004 and Gender Equality in the Arctic report from 2021. For a useful analysis of Arctic policies, we recommend the ´Arctic Policies and Strateis – Analysis, Synthesis, and Trends.

Við ystu sjónarrönd: Ísland og norðurslóðir

2004

The Nordic Region and the 2030 Agenda: Governance and engagement (2021-2022)

2023

Hagsmunamat Íslands á norðurslóðum

2015

Fyrir stafni haf: Ný tækifæri í siglingum á norðurslóðum

2005

Indigenous Peoples’ Health and Well-Being in a Changing Climate

2022

Arctic Human Development Report Volume II

2015

Arctic Human Development Report 2004

2004

Polar Law Textbook II

2013

Inventory of Networks - Phase II Iceland

2012

Arctic Report Card 2022

2022

Ísland 2020 – Sókn fyrir atvinnulíf og samfélag

2011

Polar Law Textbook

2010

Þingsályktun um stefnu Íslands í málefnum norðurslóða

2011

ASSW 2020 Scientific Summary Report

2021

Gender Equality in the Arctic

2015

Greenland and Iceland in the New Arctic

2020

Tækifæri Íslands á norðurslóðum

2013

Covid-19 in the Arctic: Briefing Document for Senior Arctic Officials. Senior Arctic Officials’ executive meeting Iceland 24-25 June 2020

2019

Aðgerðaáætlun í loftslagsmálum

2010

Rannís - Mapping Arctic Research in Iceland

2020

Pan-Arctic Report. Gender Equality in the Arctic. Phase 3.

2021

Ísland á norðurslóðum

2009

Sameining Eyþings og atvinnuþróunarfélaganna á Norðurlandi eystra

2017

Ísinn brotinn: Þróun norðurskautssvæðisins og sjóflutningar

2007

Arctic Policies and Strategies - Analysis, Synthesis, and Trends

2020