A warming arctic and national security rear admiral dave titley, usn ret. There are many other intervening variables, such as the role of regional institutions, governments, and. Climate change obligations as the impacts of climate change have become apparent in arctic regions, inuit political leaders have argued that. Iaato recognizes that modern climate change is a significant threat to the antarctic environment and has established a working group to promote awareness and understanding of climate. The security implications of climate change in the arctic. Oct 08, 2014 its increasingly difficult to find food using traditional hunting methods in the arctic, and at the same time, provisions sold at stores are unaffordable for many, jeopardizing food security and cultural life in the region, arctic experts and residents said, responding to a united nations report released monday that highlights the impact of climate change on arctic communities. Environment, climate change and security in the arctic. This book assesses the construction of security in the context of climate change, with a focus on the arctic region. Who would you like to send this to a recommendation email will be sent to the administrators of the selected organisations captcha skip to the audio challenge. The changes will also reach far beyond the arctic, affecting global climate, sea level, biodiversity, and many aspects of social and economic systems. Identify patterns and trends in arctic sea ice from maps and satellite imagery. The arctic is warming at a rate of almost twice the global average.
Climate change in the arctic cannot be changed by action solely within the arctic it is a global problem that requires a global solution. Director, center for solutions to weather and climate risk penn state university climate change. Climate change and arctic sustainable development this book brings together the knowledge, concerns and visions of leading arctic experts in the natural and social sciences, and of. While there are still populations in the continental united states who question whether or not climate change is happening. The arctic climate change and security policy conference. Climate change policy responses for canadas inuit population. Species responses to climate change are complex, because in addition to the direct effects of climate change, which vary depending on species life histories, species are also affected. Our scientists publish and our journalists report on climate science, energy, sea. Sep 05, 2016 the security community risk assessments were concerned with scenarios of climate disruption that included climate change related disasters events that have already grown more common and require military responses even if no violence is involved e. In 2005 for instance, the inuit circumpolar conference iccon behalf. Aerial view of an ice floe from greenpeaces expedition to document. Analogues of past response to climate variability and extremes, synthesised. The second part will focus on the legal aspects of the protection of. Its increasingly difficult to find food using traditional hunting methods in the arctic, and at the same time, provisions sold at stores are unaffordable for many, jeopardizing food.
It examines and discusses changes in the security premises of the arctic states. Preface this volume comprises the extended abstracts of oral and poster presentations at the acia international scientific symposium on climate change in the arctic, reykjavik, 912. Of all the uns sustainable development goals sdgs, sdg 2 on ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition is perhaps the most universal. Food security and nutrition in the age of climate change. We must all take what action we can to slow the pace of climate change, while there is still time. Final report and findings kenneth yalowitz, james collins, ross virginia minimizing the environmental impact. Without urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the world will continue to feel the effects of a warming arctic. Jun 24, 2009 the arctic climate change and security policy conference. Climate change and the arctic marine mammal commission. Arctic security in an age of climate change edited by james kraska.
Global security, climate change, and the arctic ideals. The negative phase of the arctic oscillation this winter slowed the export of older ice out of the arctic in the winter, but a large amount of older ice melted out during the summer. Pdf arctic security in an age of climate change edited. While there are still populations in the continental united states who question whether or not climate change is happening, individuals living in climatically sensitive regions, such as in the arctic, are already experiencing the impacts. Climate change and arctic security searching for a. Climate change and international security climate change has been on the international agenda as an environmental issue since the early 1990s. Dangerous climate change and the importance of adaptation for. A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems, nature 421, 37 42. Solutions to climate change greenpeace international. The paper then uses climate change projections to estimate how current climatic risks will be affected by. Climate change in antarctica understanding the facts. Much of the climate change in the arctic can be attributed to humans influences on the atmosphere, such as an increased greenhouse effect caused by the increase in co 2 due to the burning of fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels coal, oil and gas is causing climate change, making us sick, and destroying the lands and oceans we love we must completely.
Climate change in the arctic thus deserves and requires urgent attention by decision makers and the public worldwide. Dangerous climate change and the importance of adaptation. Nowhere is climate change more obvious than in the arctic. Is the climate of the bering sea warming and affecting the ecosystem. Arctic security in an age of climate change is an articulate, flowing and comprehensive commentary on the real and complex arctic state of play, and hence, a breath of fresh air into the academic debate one innovation of the book is that each chapter explores a particular national or global viewpoint. Species responses to climate change are complex, because in addition to the direct effects of climate change, which vary depending on species life histories, species are also affected indirectly. The arctic challenge to danish foreign and securit. While offsetting traditional foods with food from the store is an acceptable. Protection of biodiversity in the arctic against the. On average, the temperature on the earths surface has increased by 0. Iaato recognizes that modern climate change is a significant threat to the antarctic environment and has established a working group to promote awareness and understanding of climate change in the antarctic resulting from human activities worldwide, and to develop advice for iaato members to be climate change friendly. The link between climate change and conflict is far from selfevident. However, arctic countries, especially those with high carbon footprints, should lead the way. In addition to the impacts of climate change, many other stresses brought about by.
The arctic is more impacted by global warming than any other place in the world. Most scientists agree that this rapid warming is a signal of humancaused climate change. Arctic security in an age of climate change is an articulate, flowing and comprehensive commentary on the real and complex arctic state of play, and hence, a breath of fresh air into. Christopher mele and daniel victor, reeling from effects of climate. Climate change threatens arctic food security and culture. There are many other intervening variables, such as the role of regional institutions, governments, and social actors in managing the process of environmental change, mitigating resource pressures, and containing potential tensions. Global security, climate change, and the arctic, special journal issue of swords and ploughshares, program in arms control, disarmament and international. Two regions on earth are showing much more rapid climate change than the rest of the worldthe western peninsula of antarctica and. Climate change obligations as the impacts of climate change have become apparent in arctic regions, inuit political leaders have argued that climate change is a fundamental human rights issue. Final report and findings kenneth yalowitz, james collins, ross virginia minimizing the environmental impact of climate change and resource development in the arctic must be a top priority, if environmental disaster is to be avoided. Global security, climate change, and the arctic, special journal issue of swords and ploughshares, program in arms control, disarmament and international security acdis, university of illinois at urbanachampaign fall 2009. The arctic and climate change university of california.
Within this time span, climatic change may not be so great as to overwhelm the temperature. Other conditions that may be affected by climate change, such as fluctuations in oceanic and atmospheric circulation and natural annual and decadal variability, also affect the extent of sea. Swords and ploughshares global security, climate change, and the arctic 1 introduction matthew a. Arctic climate change context our climate is already changing, particularly in the arctic where permafrost is melting, glaciers are receding, and sea ice is disappearing. Climate change, national security, and the thawing arctic. Other conditions that may be affected by climate change, such as fluctuations in oceanic and atmospheric circulation and natural annual and decadal variability, also affect the extent of sea ice. Message from jose graziano da silva fao directorgeneral. Climate change and the arctic 5 learning objectives students will examine their knowledge and beliefs about the topic of climate change in the arctic. An arctic and antarctic perspective on recent climate change. In light of climate change and melting ice in the arctic ocean, canada, russia, denmark greenland, norway, and the united states, as well as iceland, sweden, and finland, are grappling with an emerging arctic security paradigm. For them, there is no question that climate is changing. Nonarctic states and organizations seek roles in the arctic.
The eu and nato have been examining the issues of governance and security in the arctic. These images show the change in ice age from spring 2010 to fall 2010. To understand it, our scholars break down traditional research boundaries and work at the nexus of scientific data, traditional knowledge, and anthropology. Security implications of climate change in the canadian. Changes in the arctic will not only affect local people and ecosystems but also the rest of the world, because the arctic plays a special role in global climate. Determining the age of ice is an imperfect science, as there are cases where a small amount of older ice might exist within an area classified as. Arctic sovereignty and security in a climatechanging world. This dynamic, in turn, unlocks access to previously frozen natural resources and trans arctic sea.
This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 4. The impacts of climate change are being observed earlier in the arctic, and with more immediate and severe consequences, than in most of the rest of the world. This is the first book to examine arctic defense policy and military security from the perspective of all eight arctic states. Climate change is having a direct impact on the people that live in the arctic, as well as other societies around the world. Our scientists publish and our journalists report on climate science. Within this time span, climatic change may not be so great as to overwhelm the temperature extremes between natural, annual seasonal fluctuations, but it will surely shift, stretch or compress the seasons considerably, to bring about. Arctic sovereignty and security in a climate changing world 3 executive summary in may of this year, about 200 kilometres north of the arctic circle, representatives from the five. In light of climate change and melting ice in the arctic ocean, canada. The increasingly rapid rate of recent climate change poses new challenges to the resilience of arctic life. And the arctic helps to regulate the worlds temperature, so as more arctic ice melts the warmer our world becomes. Climate change, national security, and the thawing. In addition to the impacts of climate change, many other stresses brought about by human activities are simultaneously affecting life in the arctic, including air and water contamination, overfishing.
The paper then uses climate change projections to estimate how current climatic risks will be affected by climate change, and examines their potential implications for local livelihoods. In light of climate change and melting ice in the arctic ocean, canada, russia, denmark greenland, norway, and the united states. Climate change in the arctic national snow and ice data. Climate change poses growing threat of arctic conflict. The negative phase of the arctic oscillation this winter slowed the export of older ice out of the arctic in the winter. The security community risk assessments were concerned with scenarios of climate disruption that included climate changerelated disasters events that have already. Wattcloutier, who has worked to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on arctic people, was nominated for the 2007 nobel peace prize. Arctic security in an age of climate change edited by. Currently most predictions on climate change keep to a 50100 year frame. But arctic peoples also emphasize that they intend to adapt to climate change if at all possible. Arctic security in an age of climate change edited by james. Sep 06, 2016 2016 ch4 methane climate change communication greenhouse gases impacts methane hydrate national security policy solutions over the past year, the climate risks of methane ch4 released from natural sources have attracted increasing media attention in scientific and media forums as the arctic climate threat that nobodys even talking about. Global climate change and the arctic region the worlds climate is changing. Climate change, arctic security, and methane risks the.
Social and economic aspects of climate change in arctic. According to the intergovernmental panel on climate change, warming in the arctic, as indicated by daily maximum and minimum temperatures, has been as great as in. Climate change is compromising food security in the case study communities by constraining access, availability, and quality of traditional foodsan observation noted in other locations chan et al. Make predictions about the future extent of sea ice changes in the arctic. It examines and discusses changes in the security premises of the arctic states, from traditional security to environmental and human security. Natos initial focus appears to be on improving coordination of securityrelated issues, such as search and rescue. Climate central surveys and conducts scientific research on climate change and informs the public of key findings. Climate change is compromising food security in the case study communities by constraining access, availability, and quality of traditional foodsan.