A Canadian’s View of Environmental Policy and Governance: Reflections from the Arctic Circle Assembly 2025
By Joshua Cohen
Attending the 2025 Assembly this October was valuable exposure to the intersection of environmental policy and broader governance structures in transboundary contexts. As a Canadian focused on multilateral environmental policy and writing my capstone on geoengineering governance, this experience crystallized my understanding of the Arctic’s role as both a frontier and a warning sign for global cooperation.
Among the most memorable sessions was "Buckle Up or Let Go: Arctic Conservation and the Global Biodiversity Framework" which included discussions of on-the-ground interventions in service of Target 3 of the GBF as well as remarks from Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. The panel linked directly to my recent internship at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, offering a real-world perspective on how the 30x30 Targets of the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework are being executed in Arctic contexts. It was striking to see how implementation challenges mirror those faced elsewhere: aligning national ambition with global targets while ensuring local realities are not sidelined.
Following my Fletcher classes in Law of the Sea and Global Maritime Affairs, attending panels such as "Will a Transpolar Route Fundamentally Change Arctic Geopolitics and Economics?", "Managing the Northwest Passage", and "The Northern Sea Route: Why It Cannot Become a Major International Trade Route" were a fascinating application of elements learned in a curricular setting. Especially in the Northwest Passage, Canada faces the same challenge confronting global environmental governance more broadly – how to balance national priorities with international cooperation. The environmental implications of increased shipping traffic, ranging from icebreaker disturbance to invasive species transfer, mirror the very questions of ecological risk and equitable governance that animate my broader work on biodiversity governance and international environmental policy, including my capstone project on optimizing liming governance in the Great Lakes region.
This experience reinforced my commitment to a career at the intersection of science-based policy and international environmental governance. The Assembly provided me with exposure to how legal and policy frameworks I am studying are being interpreted and operationalized in a region undergoing rapid transformation. Conversations with researchers, activists, and civil servants from Quebec, Canada, the United States, and beyond deepened my understanding of how national, subnational, and non-state actors are translating global ambitions into local realities.
As I return to my studies and research at the Fletcher School, I carry with me new insights into how environmental policy must evolve to meet the realities of a changing Arctic, including new scholars to consult with for my capstone and new inspiration for datasets to work with for my Advanced GIS class next semester. The Assembly reaffirmed that meaningful progress depends not only on negotiation and data but also on cooperation across scales – from Indigenous communities in Nunavik to multilateral halls in Tromsø.
This experience reinforced my commitment to a career at the intersection of science-based policy and international environmental governance. The Assembly provided me with exposure to how legal and policy frameworks I am studying are being interpreted and operationalized in a region undergoing rapid transformation. Conversations with researchers, activists, and civil servants from Quebec, Canada, the United States, and beyond deepened my understanding of how national, subnational, and non-state actors are translating global ambitions into local realities.
As I return to my studies and research at the Fletcher School, I carry with me new insights into how environmental policy must evolve to meet the realities of a changing Arctic, including new scholars to consult with for my capstone and new inspiration for datasets to work with for my Advanced GIS class next semester. The Assembly reaffirmed that meaningful progress depends not only on negotiation and data but also on cooperation across scales – from Indigenous communities in Nunavik to multilateral halls in Tromsø.
Joshua Cohen is a BA/MALD student in his final year at Tufts University. Josh is currently a research assistant at CIERP with both the Climate Policy Lab and the Shared Waters Lab. His academic interests focus on the intersection of environmental and international legal issues, especially with regards to marine and freshwater issues.