Governance & Arctic Organizations
The Arctic region, with its pristine landscapes and abundant resources, is an area of opportunities and threats! The region is increasingly capturing the world's attention due to the effects of climate change, the societies, the environment, and its economic importance and potential.
To effectively manage this remote and environmentally sensitive area, a complex web of governance structures and organizations has evolved, each playing a crucial role in shaping the future of the Arctic. The Arctic Council is the leading one; the intergovernmental forum promotes cooperation, coordination, and interaction amongst the Arctic States and its inhabitants. Various other organizations play a vital role in governing in the Arctic.
Arctic governance, as depicted in our informative maps and our governance section, presents a complex tapestry of international agreements and cooperation mechanisms aimed at addressing the unique challenges of this polar region. The maps visually highlight the roles and responsibilities of key organizations, such as the Arctic Council, IMO´s International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters, and the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)
The maps are often provided in various combinations of information and data, both in this section and other sections (for instance Arctic Summer Sea Ice extent and “Arctic definitions”).
A wide selection of our maps is available for viewing, subject to our specified conditions, and can also be purchased for direct download and can then be used for open publication on the condition that the source Arctic Portal is cited.
For any further information, if you need maps with different data-set combinations than currently available on our website, or need an even higher resolution or different definition, please contact info at arcticportal.org.

This map shows the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the Arctic.
© Arctic Portal 2006-2025
Last updated: August 2023

This map shows the Members, Observer states and Observers of Arctic Council.
© Arctic Portal 2006-2025
Last updated: November 2022

This map shows the Member and Observer states of Arctic Council.
© Arctic Portal 2006-2025
Last updated: April 2016

This map shows the Observer states of Arctic Council.
© Arctic Portal 2006-2025
Last updated: April 2016


