The Arctic has been the home and traditional territory of Indigenous Peoples for thousands of years—and continues to be populated by vibrant communities. For these communities, climate change is not a distant threat. It is the driving force behind many of the environmental, economic and societal transitions affecting the region today.
By WWF Arctic Programme,
Sea ice is an important “infrastructure” for Indigenous communities, as well as key to their culture and livelihoods. It enables travel to and from other communities and harvest areas. For this reason, traditional knowledge about how sea ice conditions change from season to seasons is critical.
But as the Arctic warms, weather patterns are becoming increasingly unpredictable—and so are sea ice conditions. Changes in sea ice cover are threatening ice roads and shortening the period considered safe for travel. Arctic waters are also becoming void of ice for longer periods, extending the boating season and creating rougher seas.
All of these changes pose risks for people living in the Arctic and restrict their travel, especially those living in remote areas. This changing Arctic landscape also threatens Indigenous culture and livelihoods.
A changing marine environment
For thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples have hunted animals for their food, clothing and other essentials. Hunting is still a central part of the cultural identity of many people in the Arctic. Since store-bought food is expensive—and often less healthy than traditional foods—many Northern people still depend on hunting to survive.
But changes in sea ice cover, precipitation and temperatures are curtailing the availability of traditionally harvested species. As the ice retreats, non-Arctic species, such as the killer whale, are also expanding their hunting grounds north, preying on beluga and bowhead whales, walruses, and seals. This could lead to shifts in Arctic ecosystems, which will make hunting and other traditional activities more difficult for Indigenous communities.
The expansion of industries such as mining, and oil and gas extraction is also adding to the problem by putting significant pressure on Arctic ecosystems. These operations often bring new infrastructure such as additional railway lines and lead to an increase in shipping traffic.
More shipping also increases the rate of black carbon emissions coming from burning heavy fuel oil. This has health impacts for local communities, such as increased rates of heart and lung disease. In addition, oil spills, discharge from wastewater, ship strikes and underwater noise pollution all have devastating consequences for Arctic species and the region’s sensitive ecosystems.
An uncertain future for reindeer in the Arctic
Reindeer husbandry and herding has long been a traditional livelihood for many Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic—and there are still 100 000 active herders in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia today. But this way of life is under threat.
As temperatures warm, winter rain is becoming an increasingly common event. Normally, reindeer can use their good sense of smell to locate lichen—their primary source of food— under the snow. But the layers of ice that form as the result of rain on snow events prevent the reindeer from smelling and accessing the lichen. Increasingly, this means they need to spread out geographically in search of the food they need.
Unfortunately, the open land needed for reindeer to survive is also disappearing in today’s rapidly changing Arctic. Mining, new transportation routes and other industries are slowly eating away at the Arctic landscape, bit by bit, causing reindeer migration routes to be altered—or to be cut off altogether. Many pastures where reindeer graze have completely disappeared in recent years, making reindeer husbandry difficult in many parts of the region.
Indigenous Peoples as equal partners for action
There is growing political and economic interest in the Arctic originating primarily from outside the region, which is leading to intensive industrial activity. This, combined with rapid warming, is negatively affecting the lives and livelihoods of Arctic communities. Traditional ways of life, as well as species and ecosystems, may disappear forever if the world does not take swift and decisive measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reverse the decline of biodiversity in the Arctic.
Urgent action is required at all levels of government and society to keep warming to 1.5 degrees. Every fraction of a degree over this amount will lead us toward an Arctic we will no longer recognize and threaten the livelihoods, health and cultural identities of Indigenous and local communities.
Arctic states must recognize Indigenous Peoples as equal partners in stewarding the region and managing its resources. Using a combination of the best available scientific evidence and Indigenous Knowledge is the only way to ensure the Arctic can adapt to climate change and the growing pressures from industries. Greater investment and efforts are needed—and sadly, the pledges at COP27 just don’t go far enough.
(Sources: WWF)
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