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Climate Change in the Arctic and SIDS
Changes already...
" During my childhood days in Kiribati, we never experienced severe sea flooding. There were storms, but they weren’t that bad. As the sea levels continue to rise in Kiribati, several king tides hit the island. Saltwater intrusion affects the quality of water in wells, floods taro patches, gardens, and puts stress on plants/trees which are very important to the life and culture of an I-Kiribati. …Serious storm surges cause coastal erosion, floods grave yards, and in 2006, led to the collapse of the beautiful Dai Nippon causeway. This incident bore huge costs on the people of Kiribati. They had to build new homes with their own finance, and dig up their deceased relatives from their graves and bury them further inland."
The following table presents environmental changes experienced by Arctic indigenous peoples (source: ACIA 2005):
Projections...
Communities in both the Arctic and SIDS regions have proven adept at adapting to changing conditions in the past; however, research predicts that global climate change will pose new and unprecedented challenges to their adaptive capacity and resilience. The Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (WGII, Summary for Policy Makers, 2007) highlights the following aspects of climate change impacts and adaptation challenges in the Arctic and SIDS:
Polar Regions
- In the Polar Regions, the main projected biophysical effects are reductions in thickness and extent of glaciers and ice sheets, and changes in natural ecosystems, with detrimental effects on many organisms including migratory birds, mammals and higher predators. In the Arctic, additional impacts include reductions in the extent of sea ice and permafrost, increased coastal erosion, and an increase in the depth of permafrost seasonal thawing.
- For Arctic human communities, impacts, particularly resulting from changing snow and ice conditions are projected to be mixed. Detrimental impacts are expected on infrastructure and traditional indigenous ways of life in these regions.
- Beneficial impacts could include reduced heating costs and more navigable northern sea routes.
- Specific ecosystems and habitats are projected to be vulnerable as climatic barriers to species’ invasions are lowered.
- Arctic human communities are already adapting to climate change, but both external and internal stressors challenge their adaptive capacities. Despite the resilience shown historically by Arctic indigenous communities, some traditional ways of life are being threatened and substantial investments are needed to adapt or re-locate physical structures and communities.
Small Island Developing States
- Small islands, whether they are located in the tropics or at higher latitudes, have characteristics which make them especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, sea level rise and extreme events.
- Deterioration in coastal conditions, for example through erosion of beaches and coral bleaching, is expected to affect local resources such as fisheries, and reduce the value of these destinations for tourism.
- Sea-level rise is expected to exacerbate inundation, storm surge, erosion and other coastal hazards, thus threatening vital infrastructure, settlements and facilities that support the livelihood of island communities.
- By the mid-century climate change is projected to reduce water resources in many small islands, e.g., in the Caribbean and Pacific, to the point where they become insufficient to meet demand during low rainfall periods.
- With higher temperatures, increased invasion by non-native species is expected to occur, particularly on middle and high-latitude islands.
Read more in MSV Briefing Note No. 3 Climate Change in the Arctic and SIDS and search the Links page for further information sources.
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