Professors Jeffery and Craig speak at Polar Law Symposium, September 2008
Both Professors Michael Jeffery and Donna Craig were invited to present papers and speak at first Polar law Symposium held 7th – 9th September at the University of Akureyri, Iceland. This ground-breaking symposium co-organised by the United Nations University – Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) (Japan) and the University of Akureyri with the involvement of the Tilburg University (the Netherlands), and the Northern Institute for Environment and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland (Finland) with funding provided by (UNU-IAS), the University of Akureyri, The City of Akureyri, The Dutch Polar Year Committee and the United Nations Environment Program, brought together a diverse group of scholars to discuss the emerging and re-emerging issues in international law and policy in the Polar Regions.
Michael presented a paper entitled “Terrestrial Area Management in Polar Regions: Applying the Ecosystem-Based Approach to the Coalface of Climate Change” while Donna’s paper was entitled “Implementing Sustainable Development in the Arctic: What Principles Should Guide Environmental Governance in Traditional Areas of Indigenous Peoples”. Both papers along with others from the symposium are to be published in the inaugural issue of the peer reviewed Polar Law Yearbook (Brill Publications) that is scheduled to commence publication in early 2010. UNU will also publish a policy report outlining the key findings of the symposium which will be circulated to major national and international policy focal points for Polar Affairs for subsequent follow up and action.
The Icelandic government in conjunction with UNEP outlined plans for the establishment of a Polar Law Institute to be based at the University of Akureyri and the possibility of holding an annual polar law symposium on an annual or biennial basis.
Negotiations are now under way for MU-CEL to enter into a cooperative research relationship with the University of Akureyri’s Faculty of Law that has recently established a Masters degree in polar law.