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