The Arctic Ocean is changing rapidly. Sea ice is melting at an unprecedented rate due to global warming. Solar radiation is increasingly absorbed into the ocean instead of being reflected back into the atmosphere by white ice, raising the temperature of already warm waters. In turn, this warming of the Arctic Ocean plays a crucial role in global climate regulation via feedback mechanisms.

The loss of sea ice also results in disruption of migratory behaviours and displacement of marine animals, as well as degradation of habitats. At the same time, longer ice-free periods make Arctic waters more accessible to sea traffic and more vulnerable to human activity that further destabilize this ecosystem.

The Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary (MAPS) designates all ocean space north of the Arctic Circle as an international marine protected area, thereby ensuring protection in perpetuity from all exploitation and militarization. MAPS prohibits commercial and military shipping traffic, seismic survey, all extractive processes including harvesting of living resources except for local subsistence, disposal of waste materials or other pollutants, and construction of artificial islands. These measures aim to conserve biodiversity by eliminating harmful human activities that generate chemical pollutants (e.g. mercury and other heavy metals through mining, oil and gas exploration) that contaminate and move up the food web through biomagnification--all the way to humans. MAPS also aims to significantly reduce noise pollution from industrial activity that disrupt animal communication, resulting in hearing loss and altered behaviour. Limited shipping traffic further mitigates the risk of marine pollution by dumping from ships, as well as collision of some whale species with vessels. MAPS declares our global commitment to sustainable energy sources and cessation of the use of fossil fuels by prohibiting access and use of the oil resources in the Arctic. This is a key element in the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions.

MAPS takes effect through the international MAPS Treaty, which has been translated into all official UN languages and provided to all 193 UN member states and shared with officials at COP21 and COP22. All States members of the United Nations or any of the specialized agencies are eligible to become signatories. This encourages the establishment of cooperative working relationships with specialized agencies of the UN and international organizations having a scientific interest in the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary. The Treaty enters into force on the date of deposit with the UN of the ninety-ninth duly signed Treaty or instrument of accession. A State may accede to the Treaty at any time. The Treaty is made pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982. Matters not regulated by the Treaty continue to be governed by the rules and principles set out in the Convention. MAPS only includes the Arctic Ocean and does not impact any indigenous territorial land rights or interests. Indigenous peoples retain complete freedom to use their territorial lands pursuant to relevant laws.