Polar law describes the normative frameworks that govern the relationships between humans, States, Peoples, institutions, land and resources in the Arctic and the Antarctic. These two regions are superficially similar in terms of natural environmental conditions but the overarching frameworks that apply are fundamentally different. The Routledge Handbook of Polar Law explores the legal orders in the Arctic and Antarctic in a comparative perspective, identifying similarities as well as differences. It points to a distinct discipline of "Polar law" as the body of rules governing actors, spaces and institutions at the Poles. Four main features define the collection: the Arctic-Antarctic interface; the interaction between global, regional and domestic legal regimes; the rights of Indigenous Peoples; and the increasing importance of private law. While these broad themes have been addressed to varying extents elsewhere, the editors believe that this Handbook brings them together to create a comprehensive (if never exhaustive) account of what constitutes Polar law today. Leading scholars in public international and private law as well as experts in related fields come together to offer unique insights into polar law as a burgeoning discipline.

Table of Contents:
List of maps List of contributors Acknowledgements 1. Polar Law as Burgeoning Discipline Rachael Johnstone, Yoshifumi Tanaka, and Vibe Ulfbeck Part One: International Legal Order in the Polar Regions Section A. Legal Regimes governing the Polar Regions 2. Polar Legal System Yoshifumi Tanaka, Rachael Johnstone, and Vibe Ulfbeck 3. Territorial Claims to Antarctica Patrizia Vigni 4. Challenges Relating to Baselines in Polar Regions Suzanne Lalonde and Clive Schofield 5. Maritime Boundary Delimitation in the Polar Regions Bjarni Már Magnússon and Snjólaug Árnadóttir 6. The Jurisdiction of Coastal States in Ice-Covered Waters Suzanne Lalonde and Ted L McDorman 7. Navigational Rights and Freedoms in the Polar Regions Erik Franckx 8. Scientific Research in the Polar Regions Betsy Baker 9. The Changing Maritime Security Landscape in the Polar Regions Sophia Galani 10. International Dispute Settlement and the Polar Regions Donald R Rothwell Section B. Environmental Protection of the Polar Regions 11. Two Models on Environmental Protection of the Polar Regions Yoshifumi Tanaka 12. Environmental Impact Assessment in the Polar Regions Romain Chuffart and Julia Jabour 13. Climate Change and Polar Regions Tim Stephens 14. Protection of Biological Diversity in the Polar Regions by Marine Protected Areas Ingvild Ulrikke Jakobsen 15. Wilderness Protection in the Polar Regions Antje Neumann Section C. Polar Resource Management 16. Regulation of Fisheries in Polar Regions Rosemary Rayfuse 17. Marine Mammals in the Polar Regions Malgosia Fitzmaurice and Rob C Steenkamp 18. International Regulation of Mineral Resources Activities in the Polar Regions Alan D Hemmings and Timo Koivurova Part Two: Regional Issue of International Institutions and Actors Section A. Institutional Approach to the Polar Governance 19. The IMO and Outstanding Maritime Safety and Environmental Issues under the Polar Code Marel Katsivela 20. The International Seabed Authority and the Polar Regions Edwin Egede 21. The Arctic Council and its "Legislative" Activities Natalia Loukacheva 22. The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings as a Forum of Law-Making Luis Valentín Ferrada Section B. Rights of Indigenous Peoples 23. Colonisation at the Poles, Incomplete Decolonisation and the Creation of Indigenous Peoples Rachael Lorna Johnstone 24. Indigenous Rights and Human rights Paul Patton 25. The Girjas Saami Case: Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Dispose Freely of Natural Resources Jan Mikael Lundmark 26. Natural Resource Development in the Arctic and the Question of Sami Land Rights in Finland Juha Joona and Tanja Joona Section C. Special Issues 27. The Evolving Constitution of Greenland Helle Kunke, Natuk Lund Olsen, Manasse Lars Mikaelsen and Sune Klinge 28. Svalbard Tore Henriksen 29. Japan and the Polar Region Kentaro Nishimoto 30. China and the Polar Region Nengye Liu, Sanna Kopra and Jiliang Chen Part Three: Private Governance in the Polar Legal System Section A. Natural resources 31. Mineral Exploitation Licences in Greenland. The Modification Issue Rasmus Grønved Nielsen and Vibe Ulfbeck 32. Sustainable development in contract law. Greenland Impact Benefit Agreements (IBAs) Lone Wandahl Mouyal 33. Meaningful stakeholder consultation and social impact assessment Karin Buhmann 34. Corporate Governance and Native Alaskan Corporations Grant Christensen 35. Mutually Agreed Terms, Arctic Genetic Resources and Private International Law David Leary 36. China’s Investment treaties with the Arctic States: time for revision? Maxim Usynin Section B. Shipping in the Polar regions 37. Charterparty Contracts and Clauses for Arctic Shipping Richard L. Kilpatrick 38. Oil Pollution Liability for Polar Shipping Erik Røsæg 39. Polar cruise ship tourism and liability for injuries of passengers and workers – are they in the same boat? Vibe Ulfbeck and Marlene Louise Buch Andersen 40. Shipping, Insurance and the Polar Code Trine-Lise Wilhemsson and Hans Jacob Bull