ABSTRACT
Climate change in the Arctic creates new commercial possibilities to exploit natural resources and transport routes. The increased possibility to sail in the Arctic implies, however, a risk for negative externalities, especially taking the ecological system of the Arctic into consideration. Thus, it is important to investigate which legal instruments can be used in order to minimise the risk of negative externalities, including hard and soft law. The Polar Code is the most recent legal instrument to be introduced, and it is discussed whether the Polar Code is a suitable legal regime or whether alternative legal instruments must be taken into consideration.
