The Arctic Council: From Environmental Protection to Geopolitics

Abstract

This chapter introduces the topic and the structure of the book and outlines to the history of the Arctic Council, starting from a limited effort to promote cooperation on environmental policy to becoming the most important international forum for discussions on a wide range of Arctic issues. It also portrays the political and geographical landscape the Arctic Council operates in. In consequence of a changing climate, the Arctic has once again secured a place on the international agenda. It is in the Arctic global climate change is most conspicuous. Higher temperatures and diminishing ice cover are affecting the basic conditions for actors with interests in the region. Technological progress has also made it possible to extract resources in areas that were previously inaccessible. Commercial activity is increasing and each of the Arctic states wants to take part in shaping the "new" Arctic. In parallel, a number of non-Arctic states also have aspirations for the region. The agenda varies from research to geopolitics, but that something is happening in the Arctic that needs careful monitoring is becoming clear to increasing numbers. Although interest in the region is growing, it is still characterised by political stability and well-functioning governance regimes. Among the