The increased accessibility of the Arctic due to climate change is spurring the growth of maritime activities in the region. The fragmented nature of Arctic environmental governance and the lack of a powerful overarching governing institution raise the question of corporate accountaiblity for environmental behaviour in the Arctic. This paper analyzes the emergence of pluralistic corporate accountability structures in fragmented Arctic governance architectures. I conceptualize accountability as: (1) the relation between the accountable and the judging actor; (2) the normative framework against which the one who is accountable is judged; and (3) the sanctioning mechanisms to penalize the accountable when it breaches the standards of the normative framework. I then propose four models of accountability: internal accountability, state accountability, market accountability and social accountability, in assessing emerging pluralistic accountability structures (and their deficits) in fragmented Arctic environmental governance, with a specific focus on shipping and oil and gas activities.
