"where's the ice gone?" climate change vulnerability and adaptation in an inuit...

"Where's the ice gone?" Climate change vulnerability

and adaptation in an Inuit community

Dr James FordDept. of Geography, McGill University

Arctic Climate Change

Photo: J. MacDonald

ACIA (2005); IPCC (2007)

• Observed change

• Dramatic projections

• Indigenous peoples vulnerable

My Research

Characterize Inuit vulnerability to climate change

• Who and what are vulnerable?

• What stresses?

• Determinants?

• Capacity to cope?

Case Study Research

• Inuit communities

Igloolik, Nunavut

Igloolik

Igloolik, Nunavut

Igloolik, Nunavut

Research: 2002 - 2005

• PhD research

• 44 in-depth interviews with Inuit

Key Findings

• Changing biophysical environments– Increasing danger– Food security

• Vulnerability exacerbated by other stresses – Erosion of safety and survival skills – Weakening of food sharing

(Ford, 2005; Ford et al., 2006, 2007; Ford and Community of Igloolik, 2006)

Research: 2006 - 2008

• Postdoctoral research

• 50 interviews

• 7 focus groups

Key Findings

• Back-to back extremes – 2005, 2006, 2007 freeze-up

(Ford, 2007; Ford et al., 2008a, b)

Key Findings

• Back-to back extremes

• Safety implications moderated by a number of processes

(Ford, 2007; Ford et al., 2008a, b)

Key Findings

• Back-to back extremes

• Safety implications moderated by a number of processes – Social learning: experience of change

since late 90s

(Ford, 2007; Ford et al., 2008a, b)

Key Findings

• Back-to back extremes

• Safety implications moderated by a number of processes – Social learning: experience of change

since late 90s – Local institutions: see paper

(Ford, 2007; Ford et al., 2008a, b)

Key Findings

• Back-to back extremes

• Safety implications moderated by a number of processes

• Food system still vulnerable – Constrained access– Difficult to offset with store food

(Ford, 2007; Ford et al., 2008a, b)

Conclusion

• 6 years of continuous cc vulnerability and adaptation research

• Ongoing – IPY

• Using work to monitor developments in vulnerability and adaptation

Acknowledgements

• Funding: IPY CAVIAR project, SSHRC, ArcticNet, Nat. Resources Canada

• Colleagues: Drs Barry Smit, Gita Laidler, William Gough, Wayne Pollard, George Wenzel, Lea Berrang Ford

• Community collaborators: Celina Irngaut, Kevin Qrunnut, Harry Ittusujurat, John MacDonald, all 94 interviewees!

Thank youThank you

Late Freeze Up

Freeze up: 1 week per decade later 1969 – 2005 (Sign. at 99% conf. interval)