"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)