DOCSLIB.ORG

What Happens in the Arctic Doesn't Stay in the Arctic

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
What Happens in the Arctic Doesn't Stay in the Arctic WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARCTIC WHAT HAPPENSDOESN’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC IN THE ARCTIC DOESN’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC JUNE 2016 Greenpeace Research Laboratories Technical Report (Review) No. 04-2016 WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARCTIC DOESN’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC Authors: Kirsten Thompson Greenpeace Research Laboratories Technical Report (Review) No. 04-2016 Date: June 2016 Design and layout: Cristina Jardón, Graphic Inside Infographic, page 12/13: Prodigioso Volcán Front Page Photo: © Rasmus Törnqvist / Greenpeace 2 Photo: © Rose+Sjölander/ Greenpeace WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARCTIC DOESN’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC Contents 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5 2.0 INTRODUCTION 6 3.0 WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES THAT MAKE THE DECLINE OF ARCTIC SEA ICE AFFECT THE GLOBAL CLIMATE SYSTEM? 8 3.1 The albedo effect: an unstoppable feedback mechanism 8 3.2 Release of organic carbon from glaciers, ice-sheets, the permafrost and methane hydrates. 8 3.3 Changes in oceanic circulation patterns 9 3.4 Changes in global atmospheric circulation 9 4.1 Changing world temperatures 10 4.0 HOW CHANGES IN THE ARCTIC DON’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC: THE EVIDENCE AND PROJECTIONS 14 Hot summers in the USA and Canada 14 Warming of the Mediterranean Sea and East Asia 14 Cold winters and more snow 14 4.2 Changing precipitation 15 Wet summers in northern Europe? 15 Droughts in North America and East Asia? 15 4.3 Sea level rise 16 4.4 Weather extremes 16 4.5 More Arctic tundra fires? 19 5.0 CONCLUSIONS 20 6.0 GREENPEACE DEMANDS 23 3 WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARCTIC DOESN’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC 4 Photo: © Rose+Sjölander/ Greenpeace WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARCTIC DOESN’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Arctic ecosystem is warming at more Observational and modelling studies than twice as fast as any other region indicate that, as the Arctic land ice (i.e. in the world. The total area of summer glacier sheets) disappears, sea levels sea ice in the Arctic has been decreasing are likely to rise and weather patterns over the last 30 years and this means in the northern hemisphere are predict- that significantly more heat is being ex- ed to change. These effects will most changed between the Arctic ocean and likely be geographically patchy, with the surrounding atmosphere. The Arctic hotter, drier summers in some areas, environment is integral to global climate wetter summers in other areas, and systems, and this higher heat flux not cold, stormy winters in others. Chang- only results in profound changes within ing atmospheric circulation patterns, local Arctic ecosystems, but also impacts including an altered track of the Gulf climate systems throughout the world. Stream, and ‘blocked’ planetary atmo- spheric waves are likely to contribute Scientists have been attempting to un- to these extreme climatic changes. Ex- derstand these remote climatic chang- treme weather events are likely to be es but research is still in its infancy; the more common in this future world with underlying processes are highly com- a higher likelihood of heat waves, floods plex. However, there appear to be caus- and extreme storms. This report gives a al links between the loss of the Arctic brief overview of how a warmer Arctic is ice sheets and changes in large-scale driving climatic changes in other areas atmospheric circulation patterns, oce- of the world, and of the current scientif- anic circulation and temperature gradi- ic evidence that describes the process- ents in the northern hemisphere. The es underlying these changes. effects of these changes are difficult to measure, but in years when the Arc- The area within the Arctic Circle is tic has been particularly warm, certain around 6% of Earth’s surface area, yet persistent and anomalous weather pat- is currently afforded no legally binding terns have been observed. As the Arc- international protection. Greenpeace tic warms and the ice recedes further, demands urgent protection of Arctic feedback mechanisms such as reduced ecosystems through a network of pro- reflective ability of the ice (surface albe- tection that will actively and adaptively do) and the release of harmful green- manage exploitation, encroachment house gases from their long-term stor- throughout the Arctic. age in the Arctic permafrost will further add to global climate change. 5 WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARCTIC DOESN’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC 2.0 INTRODUCTION ‘Abrupt climate change is defined by at a rate of at least 3.5-4.1 % per decade the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate in the last 30 years.1 This change is most Change (IPCC) as a large-scale change in dramatic in summer and autumn with the climate system that takes place over around a 50 % decrease in ice cover a few decades or less, persists (or is an- since satellite records began. The mean ticipated to persist) for at least a few thickness of the ice at the Arctic in sum- decades and causes substantial disrup- mer has also declined by approximate- tions in human and natural systems.’1 ly 40 %, equating to a 75-80 % loss in volume.3, 4 Sea surface temperatures in This ‘abrupt climate change’ era is now the region have been determined to be a reality for us all. Arctic ice, the north- higher than at any time in the last 1,450 ern cryosphere, is an integral part of the years.1 The underlying cause of this earth’s climate systems and has under- warming is, of course, increased con- gone rapid changes over the last century. centrations of the many greenhouse gases, and subsequent warming of the The Arctic region has warmed more global oceans and changes in weather than two times as fast as any other area patterns resulting in more warm moist of the world in the previous few decades air in the Arctic in summer.5, 6 and is known to be more sensitive to the effects of global warming in what The decline in Arctic sea ice cover is is called ‘Arctic amplification’.2 The IPCC not only an indicator of global climate has stated, with very high confidence that the Arctic sea ice extent has decreased 3 Kwok, R. & Rothrock, D. A. (2009). Decline in Arctic sea ice thickness from submarine and ICESat records: 1958– 2008. Geophysical Research Letters 36: L15501. 1 Stocker et al. (2013). Technical Summary. In: Climate 4 Overland, J. E., Wang, M., Walsh, J. E. & Stroeve, J. C. Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution (2014). Future Arctic climate changes: adaptation and of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the mitigation timescales. Earth’s Future 2: 68–74. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Stocker, T.F., D. Qin, G.-K. Plattner, M. Tignor, S.K. Allen, J. Boschung, A. 5 Vihma, T. (2014). Effects of Arctic sea ice decline on Nauels, Y. Xia, V. Bex and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. Cambridge weather and climate: A review. Survey Geophysics 35: University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New 1175-1214. York, NY, USA. 6 Marshall, J. et al. (2014). The ocean’s role in polar climate 2 Cohen et al. (2014). Recent Arctic amplification and ex- change: asymmetric Arctic and Antarctic responses to treme mid-latitude weather. Nature Geoscience 7: 627- greenhouse gas and ozone forcing. Philosophical Trans- 637. actions of the Royal Society A 372: 20130040. 6 WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARCTIC DOESN’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC change; it also plays a vital role as an im- and will do so further as the ice extent portant positive feedback system that declines, putting local ecosystems un- affects other areas of the world. The sea der acute threat. Increased tempera- ice acts as an insulating blanket, reduc- tures will likely induce broad ecosystem ing the exchange of heat and water be- shifts, changing many habitats for Arctic tween the atmosphere and the ocean species, and allowing unwanted ‘alien’ (and the generation of waves). The ice species to move northwards. is also highly reflective, and this surface ‘albedo’ serves to reflect the sun’s en- As well as these ‘local’ changes that will ergy back into space, contributing to a impact directly on Arctic biodiversity cooling effect. As the sea ice melts, this and livelihoods, there will be more ‘re- reflective surface is replaced by a rela- mote’ effects in other global areas. Cli- tively dark ocean surface, reducing the mate change is known to be affecting amount of sunlight reflected. The less weather, and ecosystems, within the sunlight that is reflected, the more heat Arctic, but there is also a growing body the planet absorbs, making it more un- of evidence that links the melting of po- likely that ice will reform in the Arctic lar ice sheets to changes in other areas region. Black carbon produced from, or the world. The mechanisms behind for example, gas flares and emissions these large-scale changes are not well from ships engines, induces further cli- understood and there has been con- mate change effects by making the ice siderable research effort recently to try darker and more likely to melt. There- and better understand the broad pro- fore, mediating these sources of black cesses that are responsible. carbon from activities within the Arctic and across the globe will be a vital part of strategies aimed at slowing down the rate of melting.7 Some studies suggest that the whole Arctic region could be free of sea ice in summer by 2050.8 Though the Arc- tic is still relatively remote, an Arctic free from sea-ice will make it ever more possible access to the many Arctic re- sources; oil and gas, fish stocks and shipping lanes.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ecological Consequences of Sea-Ice Decline Eric Post Et Al
    SPECIALSECTION 31. K. B. Ritchie, Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 322,1–14 (2006). 52. C. Moritz, R. Agudo, Science 341, 504–508 (2013). 71. A. J. McMichael, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 109, 32. B. Humair et al., ISME J. 3, 955–965 (2009). 53. C. D. Thomas et al., Nature 427, 145–148 4730–4737 (2012). 33. D. Corsaro, G. Greub, Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 19,283–297 (2006). (2004). 72. T. Wheeler, J. von Braun, Science 341, 508–513 34. W. Jetz et al., PLoS Biol. 5, e157 (2007). 54. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Summary (2013). 35. B. J. Cardinale et al., Nature 486,59–67 (2012). for Policymakers. Climate Change 2007: The Physical 73. S. S. Myers, J. A. Patz, Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 34, 36. P. T. J. Johnson, J. T. Hoverman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth 223–252 (2009). 109,9006–9011 (2012). Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on 74. C. A. Deutsch et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105, 37. F. Keesing et al., Nature 468, 647–652 (2010). Climate Change (Cambridge Univ. Press, New York, 2007). 6668–6672 (2008). 38. P. H. Hobbelen, M. D. Samuel, D. Foote, L. Tango, 55. S. Laaksonen et al., EcoHealth 7,7–13 (2010). D. A. LaPointe, Theor. Ecol. 6,31–44 (2013). 56. O. Gilg et al., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1249, 166–190 (2012). Acknowledgments: This work was supported in part by an NSF 39. T.
    [Show full text]
  • New Facts and Additional Information Supporting the Cop16
    NOVEMBER 2012 NRDC ISSUE PAPER IP:12-11-A New Facts and Additional Information Supporting the CoP16 Polar Bear Proposal Submitted by the United States of America About NRDC NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is a national nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world’s natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org. NRDC’s policy publications aim to inform and influence solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental and public health issues. For additional policy content, visit our online policy portal at www.nrdc.org/policy. NRDC Director of Communications: Phil Gutis NRDC Deputy Director of Communications: Lisa Goffredi NRDC Policy Publications Director: Alex Kennaugh Lead Editor: Design and Production: www.suerossi.com Cover photo © Paul Shoul: paulshoulphotography.com © Natural Resources Defense Council 2012 n October 4, 2012, the United States, supported by the Russian Federation, submitted a proposal to transfer the polar bear, Ursus maritimus, from OAppendix II to Appendix I of the Convention in accordance with Article II and Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP15) on the basis that the polar bear is affected by trade and shows a marked decline in the population size in the wild, which has been inferred or projected on the basis of a decrease in area of habitat and a decrease in quality of habitat. Pursuant to the Convention, “Appendix I shall include all species threatened with extinction which are or may be affected by trade.” CITES Article II, paragraph 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Recent Declines in Warming and Vegetation Greening Trends Over Pan-Arctic Tundra
    Remote Sens. 2013, 5, 4229-4254; doi:10.3390/rs5094229 OPEN ACCESS Remote Sensing ISSN 2072-4292 www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing Article Recent Declines in Warming and Vegetation Greening Trends over Pan-Arctic Tundra Uma S. Bhatt 1,*, Donald A. Walker 2, Martha K. Raynolds 2, Peter A. Bieniek 1,3, Howard E. Epstein 4, Josefino C. Comiso 5, Jorge E. Pinzon 6, Compton J. Tucker 6 and Igor V. Polyakov 3 1 Geophysical Institute, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, College of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Dr., Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 2 Institute of Arctic Biology, Department of Biology and Wildlife, College of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757000, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA; E-Mails: [email protected] (D.A.W.); [email protected] (M.K.R.) 3 International Arctic Research Center, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, College of Natural Science and Mathematics, 930 Koyukuk Dr., Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 4 Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, 291 McCormick Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 5 Cryospheric Sciences Branch, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 614.1, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 6 Biospheric Science Branch, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 614.1, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA; E-Mails: [email protected] (J.E.P.); [email protected] (C.J.T.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-907-474-2662; Fax: +1-907-474-2473.
    [Show full text]
  • THE POLAR THAW: an Analysis of the Impacts of Climate Change on the Environment and Geopolitics of the Arctic Polar Region
    THE POLAR THAW: An Analysis Of The Impacts Of Climate Change On The Environment And Geopolitics Of The Arctic Polar Region Alexandra Stoicof Spring 2008 ________________________________________________________________________ SIT Geneva: International Studies, Organizations and Social Justice Adrian Herrera, Arctic Power Alexandre Lambert, School for International Training The George Washington University International Affairs and Geography Stoicof 2 Copyright permission The author hereby does grant the School for International Training the permission to electronically reproduce and transmit this document to the students, alumni, staff, and faculty of the World Learning Community. The author hereby does grant the School for International Training the permission to electronically reproduce and transmit this document to the public via the World Wide Web or other electronic means. The author hereby does grant the School for International Training the permission to reproduce this document to the public in print format. Student (please print name): Alexandra Stoicof Signature: Date: Abstract The issues facing the Arctic region today are of relatively new importance on the agendas of environmentalists, lawyers, and national governments. Global warming is affecting the polar regions at a faster pace than the rest of the world, and is drastically changing the ecosystem and viability of the indigenous groups who depend on the environment of the tundra. The forced adaptation of the natives has lead to convictions of human rights and debates over the accountability of the world to affected communities. The retreat of Arctic sea-ice also exposes another area of controversy; the claims to the resources and passageways that are becoming increasingly accessible. The beginnings of an international race to claim sea territory has lead to interpretations of the law of the sea.
    [Show full text]
  • Arctic Climate Change Implications for U.S
    Arctic Climate Change Implications for U.S. National Security Perspective - Laura Leddy September 2020 i BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Honorable Gary Hart, Chairman Emeritus Scott Gilbert Senator Hart served the State of Colorado in the U.S. Senate Scott Gilbert is a Partner of Gilbert LLP and Managing and was a member of the Committee on Armed Services Director of Reneo LLC. during his tenure. Vice Admiral Lee Gunn, USN (Ret.) Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Chairperson Vice Admiral Gunn is Vice Chairman of the CNA Military Christine Todd Whitman is the President of the Whitman Advisory Board, Former Inspector General of the Department Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in energy of the Navy, and Former President of the Institute of Public and environmental issues. Research at the CNA Corporation. The Honorable Chuck Hagel Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret.), Chuck Hagel served as the 24th U.S. Secretary of Defense and President of ASP served two terms in the United States Senate (1997-2009). Hagel Brigadier General Cheney is the President of ASP. was a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; and Intelligence Committees. Matthew Bergman Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, USA (Ret.) Matthew Bergman is an attorney, philanthropist and Lieutenant General Kennedy was the first woman entrepreneur based in Seattle. He serves as a Trustee of Reed to achieve the rank of three-star general in the United States College on the Board of Visitors of Lewis & Clark Law Army. School. Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich The Honorable John F. Kerry The Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • Arctic Species Trend Index 2010
    Arctic Species Trend Index 2010Tracking Trends in Arctic Wildlife CAFF CBMP Report No. 20 discover the arctic species trend index: www.asti.is ARCTIC COUNCIL Acknowledgements CAFF Designated Agencies: • Directorate for Nature Management, Trondheim, Norway • Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada • Faroese Museum of Natural History, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands (Kingdom of Denmark) • Finnish Ministry of the Environment, Helsinki, Finland • Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Reykjavik, Iceland • The Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, the Environmental Agency, the Government of Greenland • Russian Federation Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, Russia • Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm, Sweden • United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska CAFF Permanent Participant Organisations: • Aleut International Association (AIA) • Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC) • Gwich’in Council International (GCI) • Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) Greenland, Alaska and Canada • Russian Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) • The Saami Council This publication should be cited as: Louise McRae, Christoph Zöckler, Michael Gill, Jonathan Loh, Julia Latham, Nicola Harrison, Jenny Martin and Ben Collen. 2010. Arctic Species Trend Index 2010: Tracking Trends in Arctic Wildlife. CAFF CBMP Report No. 20, CAFF International Secretariat, Akureyri, Iceland. For more information please contact: CAFF International Secretariat Borgir, Nordurslod 600 Akureyri, Iceland Phone: +354 462-3350 Fax: +354 462-3390 Email: [email protected] Website: www.caff.is Design & Layout: Lily Gontard Cover photo courtesy of Joelle Taillon. March 2010 ___ CAFF Designated Area Report Authors: Louise McRae, Christoph Zöckler, Michael Gill, Jonathan Loh, Julia Latham, Nicola Harrison, Jenny Martin and Ben Collen This report was commissioned by the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) with funding provided by the Government of Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Change and Food Sovereignty in Nunavut
    land Article Being on Land and Sea in Troubled Times: Climate Change and Food Sovereignty in Nunavut Bindu Panikkar 1,* and Benjamin Lemmond 2 1 Environmental Studies Program and the Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 81 Carrigan Dr., Burlington, VT 05405, USA 2 Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; blemmond@ufl.edu * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 7 November 2020; Accepted: 7 December 2020; Published: 10 December 2020 Abstract: Climate change driven food insecurity has emerged as a topic of special concern in the Canadian Arctic. Inuit communities in this region rely heavily on subsistence; however, access to traditional food sources may have been compromised due to climate change. Drawing from a total of 25 interviews among Inuit elders and experienced hunters from Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk in Nunavut, Canada, this research examines how climate change is impacting food sovereignty and health. Our results show that reports of food insecurity were more pronounced in Kugluktuk than Cambridge Bay. Participants in Kugluktuk consistently noted declining availability of preferred fish and game species (e.g., caribou, Arctic char), a decline in participation of sharing networks, and overall increased difficulty accessing traditional foods. Respondents in both communities presented a consistent picture of climate change compounding existing socio-economic (e.g., poverty, disconnect between elders and youth) and health stressors affecting multiple aspects of food sovereignty. This article presents a situated understanding of how climate change as well as other sociocultural factors are eroding food sovereignty at the community-scale in the Arctic.
    [Show full text]
  • FINLAND's COUNTRY IMAGE in CHINA Kati Hiltunen University Of
    JUST ANOTHER COLD, FARAWAY NORDIC COUNTRY? – FINLAND’S COUNTRY IMAGE IN CHINA Kati Hiltunen University of Helsinki Faculty of Arts East Asian Studies Master’s Thesis May 2018 Tiedekunta/Osasto – Fakultet/Sektion – Faculty Laitos – Institution – Department Humanistinen tiedekunta Maailman kulttuurien laitos Tekijä – Författare – Author Kati Hiltunen Työn nimi – Arbetets titel – Title Just another cold, faraway Nordic country? – Finland’s country image in China Oppiaine – Läroämne – Subject Itä-Aasian tutkimus Työn laji – Arbetets art – Level Aika – Datum – Month and Sivumäärä– Sidoantal – Number of pages year Pro gradu -tutkielma Toukokuu 2018 77 sivua + 3 liitettä Tiivistelmä – Referat – Abstract Tämä pro gradu -tutkielma käsittelee Suomen maakuvaa Kiinassa. Kiina on vuosina 2016- 2018 yksi Suomen maakuvatyön fokusmaista, ja tutkielman tavoitteena onkin tarkastella maakuvatyön vaikutusten nykytilaa sekä tunnistaa Suomen vahvuuksia Kiinassa. Tutkimus toteutettiin laajana 1004 vastaajan verkkokyselynä kuudessa kiinalaisessa suurkaupungissa. Kysely tehtiin yhteistyössä ulkoministeriön viestintäosaston kanssa. Kyselyn perusjoukkona toimi kiinalainen korkeastikoulutettu työssäkäyvä keskiluokka. Kyselyaineiston analyysissa käytettin sekä kvalitatiivisia että kvantitatiivisia metodeja. Kyselyvastausten analysointia varten maakuva-käsitettä lähestyttiin Kevin Lane Kellerin (1993) muodostaman brändimielikuvien ominaisuuksia käsittelevän teorian mukaisesti. Tätä hyödyntäen kyselyaineistosta mitattiin Suomi-kuvan tietoisuus-, vahvuus-, myönteisyys-
    [Show full text]
  • Development of a Pan‐Arctic Monitoring Plan for Polar Bears Background Paper
    CAFF Monitoring Series Report No. 1 January 2011 DEVELOPMENT OF A PAN‐ARCTIC MONITORING PLAN FOR POLAR BEARS BACKGROUND PAPER Dag Vongraven and Elizabeth Peacock ARCTIC COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT OF A PAN‐ARCTIC MONITORING PLAN FOR POLAR BEARS Acknowledgements BACKGROUND PAPER The Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) is a Working Group of the Arctic Council. Author Dag Vongraven Table of Contents CAFF Designated Agencies: Norwegian Polar Institute Foreword • Directorate for Nature Management, Trondheim, Norway Elizabeth Peacock • Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada US Geological Survey, 1. Introduction Alaska Science Center • Faroese Museum of Natural History, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands (Kingdom of Denmark) 1 1.1 Project objectives 2 • Finnish Ministry of the Environment, Helsinki, Finland Editing and layout 1.2 Definition of monitoring 2 • Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Reykjavik, Iceland Tom Barry 1.3 Adaptive management/implementation 2 • The Ministry of Domestic Affairs, Nature and Environment, Greenland 2. Review of biology and natural history • Russian Federation Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, Russia 2.1 Reproductive and vital rates 3 2.2 Movement/migrations 4 • Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm, Sweden 2.3 Diet 4 • United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska 2.4 Diseases, parasites and pathogens 4 CAFF Permanent Participant Organizations: 3. Polar bear subpopulations • Aleut International Association (AIA) 3.1 Distribution 5 • Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC) 3.2 Subpopulations/management units 5 • Gwich’in Council International (GCI) 3.3 Presently delineated populations 5 3.3.1 Arctic Basin (AB) 5 • Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) – Greenland, Alaska and Canada 3.3.2 Baffin Bay (BB) 6 • Russian Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) 3.3.3 Barents Sea (BS) 7 3.3.4 Chukchi Sea (CS) 7 • Saami Council 3.3.5 Davis Strait (DS) 8 This publication should be cited as: 3.3.6 East Greenland (EG) 8 Vongraven, D and Peacock, E.
    [Show full text]
  • The Need for Fast Near-Term Climate Mitigation to Slow Feedbacks and Tipping Points
    The Need for Fast Near-Term Climate Mitigation to Slow Feedbacks and Tipping Points Critical Role of Short-lived Super Climate Pollutants in the Climate Emergency Background Note DRAFT: 27 September 2021 Institute for Governance Center for Human Rights and & Sustainable Development (IGSD) Environment (CHRE/CEDHA) Lead authors Durwood Zaelke, Romina Picolotti, Kristin Campbell, & Gabrielle Dreyfus Contributing authors Trina Thorbjornsen, Laura Bloomer, Blake Hite, Kiran Ghosh, & Daniel Taillant Acknowledgements We thank readers for comments that have allowed us to continue to update and improve this note. About the Institute for Governance & About the Center for Human Rights and Sustainable Development (IGSD) Environment (CHRE/CEDHA) IGSD’s mission is to promote just and Originally founded in 1999 in Argentina, the sustainable societies and to protect the Center for Human Rights and Environment environment by advancing the understanding, (CHRE or CEDHA by its Spanish acronym) development, and implementation of effective aims to build a more harmonious relationship and accountable systems of governance for between the environment and people. Its work sustainable development. centers on promoting greater access to justice and to guarantee human rights for victims of As part of its work, IGSD is pursuing “fast- environmental degradation, or due to the non- action” climate mitigation strategies that will sustainable management of natural resources, result in significant reductions of climate and to prevent future violations. To this end, emissions to limit temperature increase and other CHRE fosters the creation of public policy that climate impacts in the near-term. The focus is on promotes inclusive socially and environmentally strategies to reduce non-CO2 climate pollutants, sustainable development, through community protect sinks, and enhance urban albedo with participation, public interest litigation, smart surfaces, as a complement to cuts in CO2.
    [Show full text]
  • English Pageslowres
    CANADIAN POLAR COMMISSION IN THIS ISSUE THE LAW OF THE SEA AND MARINE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH The Law of the Sea and Marine Scientific IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN Research in the Arctic Ocean 1 Ron Macnab, Olav Loken and Arvind Anand FALL/WINTER 2007 Contemporary events and circumstances, ration with other states, and by driving the Global Warming: Arctic Shipping 6 such as melting ice, the International Polar need to define maritime boundaries, these Year, and the UN Convention on the Law of developments touch upon Canada’s interests PEARL – A Canadian Success Story 11 the Sea are providing an unprecedented at the national and international levels. boost to Marine Scientific Research in the Melting ice is facilitating access to ex- The Centre d’études nordiques and central Arctic Ocean. This felicitous situa- panded oceanic regions that historically have the Qaujisarvik Network 15 tion could be short-lived, however, as Arctic remained inaccessible to scientific research coastal states apply the provisions of the on account of their widespread and persis- Social Housing North 17 Law of the Sea to extend their sovereign tent ice cover. The IPY, meanwhile, is mobi- rights beyond 200 nautical miles, enhanc- lizing legions of investigators for an inten- Oral History in Nunavut: ing their entitlement to regulate a range of sive two-year campaign of data gathering An Overview of its Past and scientific activities. This is in marked con- and analysis across a broad range of disci- Present Vitality 20 trast to the Antarctic regime, where freedom plines. Finally, UNCLOS has prompted all five of research is protected under the terms of coastal states that front upon the Arctic Book Review: the Antarctic Treaty.
    [Show full text]
  • Tununiq-Does Not Face the Sun
    Tununiq-Does Not Face the Sun “Tununiq” is the term used to describe the Pond Inlet area. Tununiq means that the community does not face the sun during the day. Bylot Island faces the sun and the temperature is much warmer than that of Pond Inlet. “The land that faces away from the sun” Nunavut Handbook. People of Pond Inlet often call themselves “Tununirmiut” and they are referred to as such by surrounding communities. Mittimatalik ( where Mittima is ) is the Inuktitut term for Pond Inlet. A person from Pond Inlet may be called “Mittimatalingmiutaq” ( place ) or “Tununirmiutaq” ( area ). A “Tununirmiutaq” may live anywhere in the Tununiq area, not necessarily in Pond Inlet. Arctic Bay is called ‘Tununirusiq’ in Inuktitut. Meaning “smaller” place that does not face the sun. Arctic Bay also faces away from the sun during the day. People living in and around Arctic Bay are also known as “ Tununirusirmiut”. The traditional name for Arctic Bay is “Ikpiarjuk” meaning pocket. There are three regions in Nunavut Territory: Qikiqtaaluk ( Baffin ), Qitirmiut (Kitikmeot), and Kivalliq (Keewatin ). Each region has its own named areas. Each of the area may contain one or more communities. Here are other areas in Nunavut that I’m aware of ( There are more): Amitturmiut Ahiarmiut Qairnirmiut Tariurmiut Akunnirmiut Uqqurmiut Quttikturmiut Tasiujarmiut Paallirmiut Akullirmiut Aivilingmiut Nattilingmiut Sikusiilarmiut Aggurmiut Qikiqtamiut Tununirmiut Tasiujarjuarmiut I can easily say that I’m Mittimatalingmiutaq ( from Pond Inlet ), Tununiq region, Nunavut territory on the North tip of Baffin Island in Canada. To make it short, I’m a proud Canadian Inuk. Elijah Tigullaraq QSO June 2010 .
    [Show full text]