Climat Change

The NRF theme project group on Climate Change provides an opportunity for open discussion of issues, concerns, solutions and debate on climate change in the Arctic and beyond, especially as it effects local populations, both indigenous and non-indigenous. Local populations in the North are on the front lines of this global problem at a time when their cultures and livelihoods are already threatened by such trends as accelerating natural resource development stimulated by trade liberalization, alienation of their youth and increasing influences of consumerism and globalization.

Beyond the overall global effect of rising temperatures, on local scales, climate change is resulting in combinations of effects including the altering of the timing, frequency and intensity of precipitation, the direction and intensity of winds, waves, ocean currents and storm circulations, the volume of rivers, and the ranges of plants and animals. Researchers say the greatest number of people will be affected by climate change through more frequent drought and spreading desertification, by rising sea levels that inundate coastal communities, through the expanded range of diseases like malaria and dengue fever, and by the disappearance of glaciers, which is already occurring in the Arctic and other areas.

Theme project group of Climate Change is coordinated by:

patricia Patricia Cochran, Executive Director, Alaska Native Science Commission, Alaska (pcochran@aknsc.org)

 

susan Ass. Professor Susie Crate, George Mason University, USA (scrate1@gmu.edu)

Recent Article:

Indigenous frameworks for observing and responding to climate change in Alaska

Web pages:

Climate Change in Alaska – State of Alaska
The Climate Change Sub-Cabinet advises the Office of the Governor on the preparation and implementation of an Alaska climate change strategy. The Sub-Cabinet was created in 2007. http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/

Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change, Anchorage, Alaska 2009
Conference Report
http://www.unutki.org/downloads/File/Publications/UNU_2009_Climate_Change_Summit_Report.pdf

Many Strong Voices – a UNEP initiated alliance between the Arctic and SIDS (Small Island Developing States) to address issues of climate change. http://www.manystrongvoices.org/

Arctic Alliance – an association of indigenous peoples and NGOs hosted by the Alaska Native Science Commission producing a weekly compilation of news, opinion pieces and other published stories about the Arctic region. Arctic Monitor focuses on reporting on environmental, indigenous, economic and social issues that involve or affect the people of the North. http://www.arcticmonitor.net/

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Center for Climate and Health
http://www.anthc.org/chs/ces/climate/
; ANTHC Healthy Village Environment Program
http://www.anthc.org/chs/ces/hve/index.cfm

Alaska Native Science Commission established in 1994 to bring together research and science in partnership with the Native community.
http://www.nativescience.org/
; Alaska Traditional Knowledge and Native Foods Database http://www.nativeknowledge.org/

Alaska Forum on the Environment – premier annual environmental forum held in Anchorage, Alaska   http://akforum.com/

http://www.teachersdomain.org/special/ean/ for digital media for classrooms including programs on climate change – Alaska Native Perspectives on Earth & Climate
www.pbslearningmedia.org/special/ean

www.passporttoknowledge.com/polar-palooza for information on the arctic and climate

www.acia.uaf.edu for access to Arctic Climate Impact Assessment Report

http://www.us-satellite.net/sprintt/ curriculum for grades 6-12 engages students in climate change investigations using authentic polar science data.

http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/ National Climate Assessment draft report (2014)