The US-Russia Polar Bear Agreement.
This is a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation on the conservation and management of the Alaska-Chukchi polar bear population. The agreement establishes a polar bear commission that is in charge of carrying out the following responsibilities: facilitating indigenous cooperation on management between the US and Russia, establishing limits on harvest, as well as research and data collection on polar bear habitat and population to determine the taking limits and conservation measures necessary. This institution binds both the US and Russian Federation governments as well as the indigenous peoples of northwestern Alaska and the region of Chukotka. It has been successful in its goal of establishing sustainable harvest limits based on biological data.
The Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic.
This is a legally binding agreement that was established in 2011, its goal is international search and rescue coordination in the Arctic nations in light of increased northern activity. It also establishes areas of responsibility for each member and ensures each member agrees to nationally implement the necessary resources and organizations to achieve the goals of the agreement. The agreement binds national governments and includes Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. The implementation of this agreement signals a rise in maritime and aeronautical activity in the Arctic, spurred by changes in climate and geopolitical relations.