NIEM examines Arctic Law in Finland and in China
11.1.2013
The Northern Institute of Environmental and Minority Law (NIEM) in the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland has received funding from the Finnish Academy to study and compare Arctic Law and Governance in Finland and in China. From the scientific point of view, the project is to fill in a knowledge gap related to the topic, especially in Arctic International Law.
Recently the Arctic has entered the spotlight of international political and legal developments due to climate change, melting sea ice, and the new possibilities for alternative international shipping routes or extraction of hydrocarbons and minerals. At the same time, the rising role of China in global economy, international relations and international law, has engendered questions about Chinese Arctic interests and the effects Chinese involvement may have on regional governance.
“Comparing Chinese legal perspectives on Arctic governance with those espoused by traditional Arctic players, like Finland, is timely and highly relevant for policy-makers, researchers and general public. It is very intriguing to study for example how the rising global economy like China adapts Arctic law and governance, or is China going to challenge it”, says the director of NIEM and research professor Timo Koivurova from the Arctic Centre.
The general project objective is to identify similarities and differences between the positions of Finland (as an EU member state) and China on the Arctic law and governance. The project will first undertake comparative studies on Finnish and Chinese legal and policy stances in specific policy-areas of relevance for the Arctic, including maritime sovereignty, scientific research, marine protected areas, Svalbard Treaty, and Arctic Council participation.
“Comparison enables us to do general conclusions on Finnish and Chinese approaches to Arctic governance and international law. This new point of view provides fresh theoretical insights on Arctic governance”, tells researcher Adam Stepien from the Arctic Centre.
The project will be implemented within NIEM in the Arctic Centre, at the University of Lapland with Research Professor Timo Koivurova as the Principal Investigator, in close cooperation with researchers from Wuhan University and Shanghai Jiaotong University under the leadership of Professor Tianbao Qin. Besides publications, the results of the project would include a 4-month research visit by a Finnish scholar at a Chinese university and a seminar organized in China.
More information:
Research professor Timo Koivurova
Tel. +358 40 551 9522
timo.koivurova (at) ulapland.fi
ULapland/Arctic Centre/JL