ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the existing governance arrangements in the Antarctic and Arctic, examines emerging polar coordination, the challenges that lie ahead, and a way forward.
Antarctica is a continent surrounded by a sea, while the Arctic is a sea surrounded by continents. Both the Arctic and Antarctic are fragile polar ecosystems, yet the lack of a permanent human population in Antarctica has facilitated a more straightforward legal framework than has been achieved in the Arctic. Nothing comparable to the freezing of Antarctic sovereignty claims exists in Arctic governance. While there are distinct geopolitical sensitivity thresholds in the Arctic and Antarctic, strengthening cooperation at all levels and across all sectors can enhance overall good governance.
