Environmental Impact Assessment in the Arctic: A Study of International Legal Norms

Environmental impact assessment in the Arctic presents a probing examination of the norms of international law that apply to the planning stage of large-scale activities such as hydrocarbon exploitation, mineral extraction and forestry. While the norms that regulate these activities belong mainly to international environmental law, also human rights law, in particular the law relating to indigenous peoples is important. The book will examine the sovereignty situation in the region and the establishment and functioning of the Arctic Council, a high-level platform between the eight Arctic States (the United States, the Russian Federation, Canada and the five Nordic States) and the region?s indigenous peoples. Moreover, a detailed look at the evolving regime of the Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context is taken.