Climate Change in the Canadian Arctic

CClimatelimate ChangeChange inin thethe CanadianCanadian Arctic:Arctic: AA CommunityCommunity ApproachApproach

LeslieLeslie WhitbyWhitby IndianIndian andand NorthernNorthern AffairsAffairs CanadaCanada The North is unique in the Canadian federation...

•• 40% of the country's land mass but only .03% of Canada's population (100,000 people) • more than half the overall population is Aboriginal, made up of First Nation, Inuit and Metis peoples • a significant proportion of the Aboriginal population lives in small, isolated communities (about 60, mostly off grid) • robust, yet vulnerable environment with 10% of the world’s fresh water supply • world class non-renewable resource potential • part of an increasingly important international circumpolar community ComplexComplex OperatingOperating EnvironmentEnvironment

•• EvolvingEvolving governancegovernance structurestructure •• LandLand claimsclaims andand selfself governmentgovernment agreementsagreements •• DevolutionDevolution ofof federalfederal responsibilitiesresponsibilities toto territorialterritorial governmentsgovernments •• GovernmentGovernment toto GovernmentGovernment toto GovernmentGovernment relationshipsrelationships •• BasisBasis forfor changechange isis atat thethe communitycommunity level,level, integratingintegrating thethe responsibilitiesresponsibilities forfor allall levelslevels ofof governmentgovernment •• FocusFocus ofof climateclimate changechange workwork isis atat thethe communitycommunity level,level, influencinginfluencing thethe dailydaily decisionsdecisions ofof membersmembers TheThe NorthNorth hashas aa strongstrong politicalpolitical commitmentcommitment fromfrom thisthis governmentgovernment

•• CommitmentCommitment toto thethe KyotoKyoto AccordAccord onon climateclimate changechange ...... willwill (b(be)e) byby refiningrefining andand implementingimplementing anan equitableequitable nationalnational plan,plan, inin partnershippartnership withwith provincialprovincial andand territorialterritorial governmentsgovernments andand otheotherr

stakeholders.stakeholders. (SFT(SFT OctOct 5)5) •• AsAs aa government,government, wewe willwill workwork withwith thethe territoriesterritories andand AboriginalAboriginal groupsgroups toto furtherfurther developdevelop thethe economyeconomy ofof thethe NorthNorth ---- andand wewe willwill dodo soso inin aa wayway thatthat sustainssustains thethe environmentenvironment andand benefitsbenefits thethe peoplpeople.e. (Response(Response to to the the SFT SFT Prime Prime Minister Minister October October 6) 6) •• TheThe GovernmentGovernment willwill developdevelop aa comprehensivecomprehensive strategystrategy forfor thethe NorthNorth thatthat willwill protectprotect thethe northernnorthern environment.environment...... This...... This uniuniqueque ecosystemecosystem isis alreadyalready damageddamaged byby climateclimate change.change. WeWe needneed toto workwork withwith territorialterritorial governmentsgovernments andand withwith NorthernersNortherners andand AboriginalAboriginals.s. ((MinisterMinister Dion DionOctoberOctober 19) 19) •• CommitmentCommitment ofof PMPM toto thethe AboriginalAboriginal RoundtableRoundtable toto workwork withwith them,them, atat thethe start,start, onon anyany policypolicy issueissue thatthat affectsaffects theirtheir livelives.s. (April(April 2004)2004) InIn thethe 19901990’’s,s, emergingemerging evidenceevidence suggestedsuggested thatthat thethe ArcticArctic climateclimate appearedappeared toto bebe changingchanging

•• LargeLarge reductionsreductions inin seasea iceice andand glacierglacier volume,volume, •• IncreasesIncreases inin riverriver runoffrunoff andand seasea level,level, •• IncreasesIncreases inin surfacesurface andand oceanicoceanic temperatures,temperatures, •• IncreasesIncreases inin precipitation,precipitation, •• ThawingThawing ofof permafrost,permafrost, •• ShiftsShifts inin thethe rangesranges ofof plantplant andand animalanimal species,species, andand •• ImpactsImpacts onon thethe residentsresidents ofof thethe circumpolarcircumpolar ArcticArctic region.region. ArcticArctic CouncilCouncil initiatedinitiated thethe ArcticArctic ClimateClimate ImpactImpact AssessmentAssessment

ToTo AddressAddress FourFour BasicBasic Questions:Questions: •• WhatWhat areare thethe pastpast andand presentpresent indicatorsindicators ofof changeschanges inin climateclimate andand ultravioletultraviolet radiation?radiation? •• WhatWhat areare thethe possiblepossible changeschanges inin thethe future?future? •• WhatWhat areare thethe possiblepossible impactsimpacts duedue toto changeschanges inin climateclimate andand UVUV inin thethe future?future? •• WhatWhat recommendedrecommended policypolicy actionsactions andand copingcoping strategiesstrategies shouldshould bebe consideredconsidered byby thethe ArcticArctic NationsNations andand Peoples?Peoples?

TraditionalTraditional KnowledgeKnowledge

•• KnowledgeKnowledge developeddeveloped byby AboriginalAboriginal peoples,peoples, basedbased onon theirtheir adaptationsadaptations toto climate,climate, environmentenvironment andand cultureculture andand passedpassed fromfrom generationgeneration toto generation,generation, mostlymostly orallyorally

•• SharesShares thethe samesame principlesprinciples asas westernwestern science:science: Predictable,Predictable, reproducible,reproducible, reflectsreflects thethe valuesvalues ofof thethe communitycommunity andand takestakes resourcesresources toto documentdocument

•• KnowledgeKnowledge heldheld byby thethe communitycommunity andand accessibleaccessible toto thethe communitycommunity ACIAACIA

TheThe OverviewOverview ArcticArctic climateclimate isis warmingwarming rapidlyrapidly nownow Document Document 11 andand muchmuch largerlarger changeschanges areare projectedprojected identifiesidentifies tenten keykey findingsfindings thatthat SummarizeSummarize thethe keykey ArcticArctic warmingwarming andand itsits consequencesconsequences consequencesconsequences ofof 22 havehave worldwideworldwide implicationsimplications climateclimate changechange forfor thethe entireentire ArcticArctic regionregion ArcticArctic vegetationvegetation zoneszones areare projectedprojected toto 33 shift,shift, bringingbringing widewide--rangingranging impactsimpacts

AnimalAnimal speciesspecies’’ diversity,diversity, ranges,ranges, andand 44 distributionsdistributions willwill change,change, somesome dramaticallydramatically ManyMany coastalcoastal communitiescommunities andand facilitiesfacilities 55 faceface increasingincreasing exposureexposure toto stormsstorms KeyKey FindingsFindings Reduced sea ice is very likely to Reduced sea ice is very likely to (Continued)(Continued) 66 increaseincrease marinemarine transporttransport andand accessaccess toto resourcesresources

ThawingThawing groundground willwill disruptdisrupt 77 transportation,transportation, buildings,buildings, andand otherother infrastructureinfrastructure

IndigenousIndigenous communitiescommunities areare facingfacing 88 majormajor economiceconomic andand culturalcultural impactsimpacts

ElevatedElevated ultravioletultraviolet radiationradiation levelslevels willwill 99 affectaffect people,people, plants,plants, andand animalsanimals

MultipleMultiple influencesinfluences interactinteract toto causecause 1010 impactsimpacts toto peoplepeople andand ecosystemsecosystems TheThe ImpactsImpacts imposedimposed byby aa changingchanging climateclimate areare reallyreally allall about:about: WhatWhat doesdoes thisthis meanmean toto thethe CanadianCanadian ArcticArctic CommunitiesCommunities

•• CommunitiesCommunities areare sparselysparsely populatedpopulated andand spreadspread acrossacross thethe land,land, locatedlocated nearnear majormajor waterwayswaterways oror thethe arcticarctic oceanocean costcost •• MostMost areare remoteremote andand generategenerate powerpower fromfrom dieseldiesel facilities,facilities, transportingtransporting fuelfuel overover winterwinter roadsroads oror seasea route.route. •• FuelFuel costscosts areare increasing,increasing, reducingreducing thethe resiliencyresiliency ofof communitiescommunities andand willwill continuecontinue toto increaseincrease •• EmissionsEmissions lowlow butbut highesthighest perper capita,capita, butbut committedcommitted toto leadershipleadership andand communitycommunity interestinterest •• NewNew aspectaspect isis adaptationsadaptations –– communitycommunity infrastructure,infrastructure, traditionaltraditional foods,foods, societysociety andand culture,culture, northernnorthern economyeconomy ProgramProgram PrinciplesPrinciples

•• WorkWork throughthrough communitycommunity structuresstructures andand governancegovernance systemssystems toto engageengage communitiescommunities andand supportsupport theirtheir decisiondecision makingmaking processesprocesses •• RespectRespect forfor diversity,diversity, governancegovernance andand agreementsagreements •• SupportSupport keykey decisiondecision makersmakers withwith concrete,concrete, culturallyculturally significantsignificant informationinformation •• GovernmentGovernment toto governmentgovernment relationshiprelationship •• AccessAccess toto allall federalfederal programsprograms inin coordinatedcoordinated fashionfashion •• IdentifyIdentify andand workwork withwith emergingemerging leadersleaders andand successfulsuccessful initiativesinitiatives •• BuildBuild capacitycapacity ofof communitiescommunities oror thirdthird partyparty AboriginalAboriginal technicaltechnical organizationsorganizations –– PathfindersPathfinders andand studentstudent interns.interns. •• IntegrateIntegrate activitiesactivities onon mitigationmitigation andand adaptationadaptation ArcticArctic // NorthNorth WorkingWorking GroupGroup Priorities:Priorities:

•• AssessAssess criticalcritical risks/vulnerabilitiesrisks/vulnerabilities inin thethe North,North, focusingfocusing onon economic,economic, social,social, environmentalenvironmental andand securitysecurity issues,issues, andand establiestablishsh northernnorthern needsneeds andand prioritiespriorities forfor informationinformation andand action.action. •• AssessAssess vulnerabilityvulnerability ofof communitycommunity infrastructureinfrastructure inin thethe North,North, developdevelop mitigationmitigation optionsoptions andand actionaction plans,plans, andand incorporateincorporate climateclimate considerationsconsiderations inin futurefuture infrastructureinfrastructure planning.planning. •• WorkWork withwith a)a) renewablerenewable resourcesresources sectorsector andand b)b) nonnon--renewablerenewable resourceresource sectorsector toto shareshare information,information, identifyidentify issues,issues, andand planplan forfor adaptationadaptation inin operationsoperations andand emergencies.emergencies. •• AssessAssess majormajor emergencyemergency preparednesspreparedness andand securitysecurity issues,issues, policiepolicies,s, legislationlegislation andand capabilitiescapabilities toto monitormonitor andand controlcontrol increasedincreased trtrafficaffic inin thethe North,North, andand developdevelop plansplans basedbased onon results.results. •• WorkWork withwith AboriginalAboriginal leadersleaders andand organizationsorganizations toto developdevelop optionoptionss andand plansplans forfor addressingaddressing thethe culturalcultural andand socialsocial impactsimpacts ofof climclimateate change.change. ArcticArctic // NorthNorth WorkingWorking GroupGroup

•• ReviewReview existingexisting northernnorthern policypolicy andand legislation,legislation, includingincluding landland claimsclaims andand implementationimplementation plans,plans, asas wellwell asas thethe northernnorthern dimensionsdimensions ofof internationalinternational initiatives,initiatives, toto identifyidentify majormajor polipolicycy gapsgaps andand optionsoptions forfor addressingaddressing climateclimate changechange adaptation.adaptation. •• DevelopDevelop aa planplan forfor climateclimate changechange sciencescience thethe North,North, includingincluding bbothoth focused,focused, shortshort--termterm studiesstudies andand longerlonger termterm observationalobservational needs,needs, andand improveimprove thethe outreachoutreach networksnetworks forfor thethe disseminationdissemination ofof thisthis informationinformation toto decisiondecision--makersmakers bothboth withinwithin andand outsideoutside thethe NorthNorth decisiondecision makers.makers. •• WorkWork withwith keykey educationeducation institutionsinstitutions domestically,domestically, andand thethe UniversityUniversity ofof thethe ArcticArctic internationallyinternationally toto developdevelop aa climateclimate chchangeange curriculacurricula inin orderorder toto buildbuild northernnorthern capacity.capacity. •• EstablishEstablish aa coordinated,coordinated, partnershippartnership managementmanagement approachapproach toto climateclimate changechange actionsactions inin thethe North,North, andand anan envelopeenvelope forfor fundingfunding specificspecific prioritiespriorities (( approx.approx. $3.0$3.0 MillionMillion forfor eacheach ofof firstfirst twtwoo years,years, $5.0$5.0 MillionMillion forfor eacheach ofof nextnext 33 years.)years.) ImpactsImpacts andand AdaptationAdaptation StrategyStrategy

•• LeadLead byby northerners,northerners, forfor northernersnortherners –– AboriginalAboriginal peoplespeoples andand territorialterritorial governmentsgovernments •• FederalFederal governmentgovernment inin partnershippartnership •• ProcessProcess moremore importantimportant thanthan productproduct –– processprocess ofof discussiondiscussion willwill resultresult inin informedinformed adaptationadaptation decisionsdecisions •• DevelopDevelop derivativederivative productsproducts forfor ACIAACIA inin varietyvariety ofof culturallyculturally relevantrelevant formatsformats andand languageslanguages •• SeriesSeries ofof regionalregional communitycommunity discussionsdiscussions toto discussdiscuss resultsresults ofof ACIAACIA •• IntroduceIntroduce thethe conceptconcept ofof adaptationadaptation needsneeds andand tools,tools, andand listenlisten •• DevelopDevelop concreteconcrete proposalproposal withwith leadership,leadership, basedbased onon communitycommunity input.input. GenerationsGenerations

““WeWe areare thethe firstfirst generationgeneration toto influenceinfluence thethe climateclimate andand thethe lastlast generationgeneration toto escapeescape thethe consequencesconsequences……..The..The ancientancient connectionconnection toto ourour huntinghunting cultureculture maymay disappeardisappear withinwithin mymy grandsongrandson’’ss lifetime.lifetime.””

SheilaSheila WattWatt CloutierCloutier President,President, InuitInuit CircumpolarCircumpolar ConferenceConference ANNEXANNEX •• KEYKEY FINDINGFINDING OFOF THETHE ARCTICARCTIC CLIMATECLIMATE IMPACTIMPACT ASSESSMENTASSESSMENT 20042004 1.1. ArcticArctic climateclimate isis 8o C 6o C warming rapidly o warming rapidly 4.5 C nownow andand muchmuch 1.5o C largerlarger changeschanges areare projected.projected. 20752075 ProjectionsProjections ofof TemperaturesTemperatures

•• AnnualAnnual averageaverage arcticarctic temperaturetemperature hashas increasedincreased moremore rapidlyrapidly thathann thethe globalglobal raterate overover thethe pastpast severalseveral decades,decades, withwith somesome regionsregions upup 55--1010 timestimes thethe globalglobal average.average. •• AdditionalAdditional evidenceevidence ofof arcticarctic warmingwarming comescomes fromfrom widespreadwidespread meltmeltinging ofof glaciersglaciers andand seasea ice,ice, andand aa shorteningshortening ofof thethe snowsnow season.season. •• IncreasingIncreasing precipitation,precipitation, shortershorter andand warmerwarmer winters,winters, andand substasubstantialntial decreasesdecreases inin snowsnow andand iceice covercover areare amongamong thethe projectedprojected changeschanges thatthat areare veryverylikelylikely toto persistpersist forfor centuries.centuries. •• UnexpectedUnexpected andand eveneven largerlarger shiftsshifts andand fluctuationsfluctuations inin climateclimate araree alsoalso possible.possible. •• IncreasingIncreasing globalglobal concentrationsconcentrations ofof carboncarbon dioxidedioxide andand otherother gregreenhouseenhouse gasesgases duedue toto humanhuman activities,activities, primarilyprimarily fossilfossil fuelfuel burning,burning, areare projectedprojected ttoo contributecontribute toto additionaladditional arcticarctic warmingwarming ofof aboutabout 44--77°°C,C, aboutabout twicetwice thethe globalglobal averageaverage rise,rise, overover thethe nextnext 100100 years.years. 2.2. ArcticArctic warmingwarming OceanOcean CurrentsCurrents andand itsits inin thethe NorthNorth consequencesconsequences AtlanticAtlantic ControlControl thethe TimingTiming andand havehave worldwideworldwide MagnitudeMagnitude ofof implications.implications. ClimateClimate ChangeChange

•• IncreasesIncreases inin glacialglacial meltmelt andand riverriver runoffrunoff addadd moremore freshwaterfreshwater ttoo thethe ocean,ocean, raisingraising globalglobal seasea levellevel andand possiblypossibly slowingslowing thethe oceanocean currentscurrentsthatthat bringsbrings heatheat fromfrom thethe tropicstropics toto thethe poles,poles, affectingaffecting globalglobal andand regionalregional cliclimate.mate. •• MeltingMelting ofof highlyhighly reflectivereflective arcticarctic snowsnow andand iceice revealsreveals darkerdarker landland andand oceanocean surfaces,surfaces, increasingincreasing absorptionabsorptionofof thethe SunSun’’ss heatheat andand furtherfurther warmingwarming thethe planet.planet. •• WarmingWarming isis veryvery likelylikely toto alteralter bothboth thethe releaserelease andand uptakeuptake ofof ggreenhousereenhouse gasesgases fromfrom soils,soils, vegetation,vegetation, andand coastalcoastal oceans.oceans. •• ImpactsImpacts ofof arcticarctic climateclimate changechange willwill havehave implicationsimplications forfor biodbiodiversityiversity aroundaround thethe worldworld becausebecause migratorymigratory speciesspecies dependdepend onon breedingbreeding andand feedingfeeding ggroundsrounds inin thethe Arctic.Arctic. 3.3. ArcticArctic vegetationvegetation zoneszones areare projectedprojected toto MajorMajor ChangesChanges shift,shift, bringingbringing inin thethe TundraTundra widewide--rangingranging impacts.impacts.

•• TreeTree lineline isis expectedexpected toto movemove northwardnorthward andand toto higherhigher elevationselevations,, withwith forestsforests replacingreplacing aa significantsignificant fractionfraction ofof existingexisting tundra,tundra, andand tundratundra vegetationvegetation movingmoving intointo polarpolar deserts.deserts. •• MoreMore--productiveproductive vegetationvegetation isis likelylikely toto increaseincrease carboncarbon uptake,uptake, althoalthoughugh reducedreduced reflectivityreflectivity ofof thethe landland surfacesurface isis likelylikely toto outweighoutweigh this,this, caucausingsing furtherfurther warming.warming. •• DisturbancesDisturbances suchsuch asas insectinsect infestationsinfestations andand forestforest firesfires areare veveryry likelylikely toto increaseincrease inin frequency,frequency, severity,severity, andand duration,duration, facilitatingfacilitating invasionsinvasions byby nonnon--nativenative species.species. •• WhereWhere suitablesuitable soilssoils areare present,present, agricultureagriculture willwill havehave thethe potepotentialntial toto expandexpand northwardnorthward duedue toto aa longerlonger andand warmerwarmer growinggrowing seasonseason andand increaseincreasedd precipitation.precipitation. 4.4. AnimalAnimal species'species' diversity,diversity, ranges,ranges, andand distributionsdistributions willwill change.change.

•• ReductionsReductions inin seasea iceice willwill drasticallydrastically shrinkshrink marinemarine habitathabitat forforpolarpolar bears,bears, iceice-- inhabitinginhabiting seals,seals, andand somesome seabirds,seabirds, pushingpushing somesome speciesspecies towardtowardextinction.extinction. •• Caribou/reindeerCaribou/reindeer andand otherother animalsanimals onon landland areare likelylikely toto bebe incrincreasinglyeasingly stressedstressed asas climateclimate warmingwarming altersalters theirtheir accessaccess toto foodfood sources,sources, breedingbreedinggrounds,grounds, andand historichistoric migrationmigration routes.routes. •• SpeciesSpecies rangesranges areare projectedprojected toto shiftshift northwardnorthward onon bothboth landland andand sea,sea, bringingbringing newnew speciesspecies intointo thethe ArcticArctic whilewhile severelyseverely limitinglimiting somesome speciesspeciescurrentlycurrently present.present. •• AsAs newnew speciesspecies movemove in,in, animalanimal diseasesdiseases thatthat cancan bebe transmittedtransmitted toto humans,humans, suchsuch asas WestWest NileNile Virus,Virus, areare likelylikely toto posepose increasingincreasing healthhealth risks.risks. •• SomeSome arcticarctic marinemarine fisheries,fisheries, whichwhich provideprovide foodfood forfor thethe worldworld aandnd majormajor contributionscontributions toto thethe regionregion’’ss economy,economy, areare likelylikely toto becomebecome moremore productive,productive, whilewhile northernnorthern freshwaterfreshwater fisheriesfisheries thatthat areare mainstaysmainstays ofof locallocal dietsdiets areare likelylikely toto suffer.suffer. 5.5. ManyMany coastalcoastal AlaskaAlaska andand ChukotkaChukotka areare communitiescommunities ParticularlyParticularly atat andand facilitiesfacilities RiskRisk faceface increasingincreasing exposureexposure toto storms.storms.

•• SevereSevere coastalcoastal erosionerosion willwill bebe aa growinggrowing problemproblem asas risingrising seasea llevelsevels andand aa reductionreduction inin seasea iceice allowallow higherhigher waveswaves andand stormstorm surgessurges toto reacreachh shore.shore. •• AlongAlong somesome ArcticArctic coastlines,coastlines, thawingthawing permafrostpermafrost weakensweakens coastalcoastallands,lands, addingadding toto theirtheir vulnerability.vulnerability. •• TheThe riskrisk ofof floodingflooding inin coastalcoastal wetlandswetlands isis projectedprojected toto increasincrease,e, withwith impactsimpacts onon societysociety andand naturalnatural ecosystems.ecosystems. •• InIn somesome cases,cases, communitiescommunities andand industrialindustrial facilitiesfacilities inin coastalcoastal zoneszones areare alreadyalready threatenedthreatened oror beingbeing forcedforced toto relocate,relocate, whilewhile othersothers faceface increaincreasingsing risksrisks andand costs.costs. 6.6. ReducedReduced seasea iceice CanadianCanadian isis veryvery likelylikely toto ArchipelagoArchipelago downdown toto 20%20% oror increaseincrease marinemarine soso ofof SeaSea IceIce inin transporttransport andand SeptemberSeptember 19991999 accessaccess toto inin manymany partsparts resources.resources. •• Sovereignty,Sovereignty, security,security, andand safety,safety, asas wellwell asas social,social, cultural,cultural, andand environmentalenvironmental concernsconcerns areare likelylikely toto arisearise asas marinemarine accessaccess increases.increases. •• TheThe changingchanging iceice covercover willwill havehave powerfulpowerful impactsimpacts andand consequencconsequenceses forfor indigenousindigenous residentsresidents ofof thethe Arctic.Arctic. •• TheThe continuingcontinuing reductionreduction ofof seasea iceice isis veryvery likelylikely toto lengthenlengthen tthehe navigationnavigation seasonseason andand increaseincrease marinemarine accessaccess toto thethe ArcticArctic’’ss naturalnatural resources.resources. •• SeasonalSeasonal openingopening ofof thethe NorthernNorthern SeaSea RouteRoute isis likelylikely toto makemake tratransns--ArcticArctic shippingshipping duringduring summersummer feasiblefeasible withinwithin severalseveral decades.decades. IncreasingIncreasing iceice mmovementovement inin somesome channelschannels ofof thethe NorthwestNorthwest PassagePassage couldcould makemake shippingshipping moremore diffidifficult.cult. •• ReducedReduced seasea iceice isis likelylikely toto allowallow increasedincreased offshoreoffshore extractionextractionofof oiloil andand gas,gas, althoughalthough increasingincreasing iceice movementmovement couldcould hinderhinder somesome operations.operations. 7. ThawingThawing groundground 7. LowLow (G)(G) willwill disruptdisrupt transportation,transportation, 200200 DaysDays 100100 DaysDays buildings,buildings, andand otherother HighHigh (B)(B) infrastructure.infrastructure. 3030 YearsYears

•• TransportationTransportation andand industryindustry onon land,land, includingincluding oiloil andand gasgas extraextractionction andand forestry,forestry, willwill increasinglyincreasingly bebe disrupteddisrupted byby thethe shorteningshortening ofof ththee periodsperiods duringduring whichwhich iceice roadsroads andand tundratundra areare frozenfrozen sufficientlysufficiently toto permitpermit tratravel.vel. •• AsAs frozenfrozen groundground thaws,thaws, manymany existingexisting buildings,buildings, roads,roads, pipelinepipelines,s, airports,airports, andand industrialindustrial facilitiesfacilities areare likelylikely toto bebe destabilized,destabilized, requiringrequiring ssubstantialubstantial rebuilding,rebuilding, maintenance,maintenance, andand investment.investment. •• FutureFuture developmentdevelopment willwill requirerequire newnew designdesign elementselements toto accountaccount fforor ongoingongoing warmingwarming thatthat willwill addadd toto constructionconstruction andand maintenancemaintenance costs.costs. •• PermafrostPermafrost degradationdegradation willwill alsoalso impactimpact naturalnatural ecosystemsecosystems throuthroughgh collapsingcollapsing ofof thethe groundground surface,surface, drainingdraining ofof lakes,lakes, wetlandwetland development,development, andand topplingtoppling ofof treestrees inin susceptiblesusceptible areas.areas. 8.8. IndigenousIndigenous communitiescommunities areare facingfacing majormajor economiceconomic andand culturalcultural impacts.impacts.

•• ManyMany IndigenousIndigenous PeoplesPeoples dependdepend onon huntinghunting polarpolar bear,bear, walrus,walrus, seseals,als, andand caribou,caribou, herdingherding reindeer,reindeer, fishing,fishing, andand gathering,gathering, notnot onlyonly forfor foodfood andand toto supportsupport thethe locallocal economy,economy, butbut alsoalso asas thethe basisbasis forfor culturalcultural anandd socialsocial identity.identity. •• ChangesChanges inin speciesspecies’’rangesranges andand availability,availability, accessaccess toto thesethese species,species, aa perceivedperceived reductionreduction inin weatherweather predictability,predictability, andand traveltravel safetysafety inin changichangingng iceice andand weatherweather conditionsconditions presentpresent seriousserious challengeschallenges toto humanhuman healthhealth anandd foodfood security,security, andand possiblypossibly eveneven thethe survivalsurvival ofof manymany cultures.cultures. •• IndigenousIndigenous knowledgeknowledge andand observationsobservations provideprovide anan importantimportant sourcsourcee ofof informationinformation aboutabout climateclimate change.change. ThisThis knowledge,knowledge, consistentconsistent wiwithth complementarycomplementary informationinformation fromfrom scientificscientific research,research, indicatesindicates ththatat substantialsubstantial changeschanges havehave alreadyalready occurred.occurred. 9.9. ElevatedElevated ultravioletultraviolet radiationradiation levelslevels willwill affectaffect people,people, plants,plants, andand animals.animals. PastPast 1515 YearsYears •• TheThe stratosphericstratospheric ozoneozone layerlayer overover thethe ArcticArctic isis notnot expectedexpected toto improveimprove significantlysignificantly forfor atat leastleast aa fewfew decades.decades. UltravioletUltraviolet radiationradiation (UV)(UV) inin thethe ArctiArcticc isis thusthus projectedprojected toto bebe elevated.elevated. •• AsAs aa result,result, thethe currentcurrent generationgeneration ofof arcticarctic youngyoung peoplepeople isis lilikelykely toto receivereceive aa lifetimelifetime dosedose ofof UVUV thatthat isis aboutabout 30%30% higherhigher thanthan anyany priorprior generation.generation. IncreasedIncreased UVUV isis knownknown toto causecause skinskin cancer,cancer, cataracts,cataracts, andand immuneimmune systemsystem disordersdisorders inin humans.humans. •• ElevatedElevated UVUV cancan disruptdisrupt photosynthesisphotosynthesis inin plantsplants andand havehave detrimdetrimentalental effectseffects onon thethe earlyearly lifelife stagesstages ofof fishfish andand amphibians.amphibians. •• RisksRisks toto somesome arcticarctic ecosystemsecosystems areare likelylikely asas thethe largestlargest increaincreasesses inin UVUV occuroccur inin springtime,springtime, whenwhen sensitivesensitive speciesspecies areare mostmost vulnerable,vulnerable, andand warmwarminging--relatedrelated declinesdeclines inin snowsnow andand iceice covercover increaseincrease exposureexposure forfor livingliving thingsthings normallynormally protectedprotected byby thatthat cover.cover. 10.10.MultipleMultiple influencesinfluences ComplexComplex interactinteract toto causecause InteractionsInteractions impactsimpacts toto peoplepeople andand ecosystems.ecosystems.

••ChangesChanges inin climateclimate areare occurringoccurring inin thethe contextcontext ofof manymany otherother ststressesresses includingincluding chemicalchemical pollution,pollution, overover--fishing,fishing, landland useuse changes,changes, habitathabitat fragmentation,fragmentation, humanhuman populationpopulation increases,increases, andand culturalcultural andand econeconomicomic changes.changes. ••TheseThese multiplemultiple stressesstresses cancan combinecombine toto amplifyamplify impactsimpacts onon humanhuman andand ecosystemecosystem healthhealth andand wellwell--being.being. InIn manymany cases,cases, thethe totaltotal impactimpact isis greatergreater thanthan thethe sumsum ofof itsits parts,parts, suchsuch asas thethe combinedcombined impactsimpacts ofof chemicalchemical contaminants,contaminants, excessexcess ultravioletultraviolet radiation,radiation, andand climaticlimaticc warming.warming. ••UniqueUnique circumstancescircumstances inin arcticarctic subsub--regionsregions determinedetermine whichwhich areare thethe mostmost importantimportant stressesstresses andand howhow theythey interact.interact. LessonsLessons fromfrom majormajor quakesquakes UNUN SecretariatSecretariat forfor DisasterDisaster ReductionReduction

•• DevelopDevelop andand enforceenforce landland useuse planningplanning andand infrastructureinfrastructure codescodes inin vulnerablevulnerable areasareas •• TakeTake specialspecial precautionsprecautions toto safeguardsafeguard schoolsschools andand otherother publicpublic buildingsbuildings •• WhenWhen locallocal authoritiesauthorities areare betterbetter informedinformed andand prepared,prepared, publicpublic safetysafety improvesimproves •• EvenEven wealthywealthy nationsnations suffersuffer dramaticallydramatically (?)(?) •• InsuranceInsurance cancan reducereduce vulnerabilityvulnerability andand speedspeed disasterdisaster recoveryrecovery •• NationsNations needneed toto planplan aheadahead ofof time,time, insteadinstead ofof waitingwaiting untiluntil disasterdisaster strikesstrikes toto respondrespond •• CompetingCompeting prioritiespriorities cancan divertdivert attentionattention fromfrom disasters.disasters. ANCAPANCAP ProgramProgram objectivesobjectives

•• ReduceReduce energyenergy demanddemand andand costcost •• GenerateGenerate cleanercleaner powerpower andand reducereduce useuse ofof dieseldiesel fuelfuel •• FosterFoster economiceconomic developmentdevelopment andand employmentemployment •• IncreaseIncrease useuse ofof locallocal renewablerenewable energyenergy resources,resources, andand improveimprove energyenergy generationgeneration efficiencyefficiency •• ReduceReduce environmentalenvironmental risksrisks (i.e.(i.e. fuelfuel spills,spills, airair quality)quality) •• PromotePromote investmentinvestment inin newnew generationgeneration ofof energyenergy technologytechnology andand infrastructureinfrastructure •• PromotePromote participationparticipation inin federalfederal policypolicy instrumentsinstruments •• CreateCreate partnershipspartnerships forfor actionaction •• DevelopDevelop impactsimpacts andand adaptationadaptation strategystrategy