Impacts of climate change and climate extremes on Arctic livelihoods and communities

• Key findings:• Climate change is impacting the subsistence harvestbased livelihoods of many small Arctic communities, affecting the quality or supply of traditional food and drinking water, including availability of species to be harvested, and altering transportation access.• Rain-on-snow, extreme snowfall, and variable freezethaw cycles have resulted in severe impacts for reindeer herders. In 2020, multiple snowstorms combined with a late spring thaw resulted in high newborn calf mortality and, together with other social stresses related to Covid-19, created severe crises for reindeer herders in Fennoscandia.• Commercial fisheries are expanding in Arctic shelf ecosystems with warmer oceans and less sea ice. This could benefit local economies and job creation, but may also challenge traditional livelihoods and culture and impact vulnerable Arctic ecosystems. Large uncertainties are associated with the effects of ocean acidification, which could potentially counteract increased commercial fishing opportunities. Commercial fishing is currently prohibited by international agreement in the Central Arctic Ocean.• Warmer water is enabling a northward expansion of salmon farming in the ice-free European Arctic. The aquaculture industry brings employment opportunities and positive ripple effects for local economies, but also has environmental and societal costs that need to be considered in marine spatial planning and regulatory measures.• Arctic cruise tourism is increasing and is attracted to the wildlife associated with the marginal ice zone. Although increased cruise tourism brings the potential for local economic development, adverse local impacts have been reported, including impacts on culture, local hunting and fishing, crowding, and revenue largely benefitting foreign-based individuals and corporations.• Permafrost thaw, flooding, and coastal erosion are causing damage to buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, and pose serious financial and health risks to Arctic residents.• Wildfire occurrence near populated regions in North America and Sweden, and throughout Siberia, in the past five years has resulted in significant economic loss from property damage as well as physical and mental health impacts.• Fishing, cruise tourism, and increased oil and gas operations near the marginal ice zone could increase demand on search and rescue operations and may represent a considerable risk for vulnerable ecosystems. The extent of ice cover is important for determining the fate of an Arctic oil spill and research indicates longer term and more severe ecological impacts from oil spills in the Arctic than in other regions.• Understanding and studying integrated socio-ecological systems, including cumulative and cascading impacts, is important not only in terms of research, but also in terms of risk mitigation, hazard response, climate adaptation,

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Klimatforskning (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Climate Research (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

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Public health

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