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John Burrows Executive Director Center For World Indigenous Studies ()-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=() ||/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|| ||=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-|| || || || The Fourth World Documentation Project runs entirely on grants || || and private donations. If you find this information service || || useful to you in any way, please consider making a donation to || || help keep it running. CWIS is a non-profit [U.S. 501(c)(3)] || || organization. All donations are completely tax deductible. || || Donations may be made to: || || || || The Center For World Indigenous Studies || || ATTN: FWDP || || P.O. Box 2574 || || Olympia, Washington USA || || 98507-2574 || || Thank You, || || CWIS Staff || || || ||=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-|| ||\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/|| ()=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-() ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: This file has been created under the loving care of :: :: -= THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT =- :: :: A service provided by :: :: The Center For World Indigenous Studies :: :: :: :: THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT ARCHIVES :: :: http://www.halcyon.com/FWDP/fwdp.html :: :: THE CENTER FOR WORLD INDIGENOUS STUDIES :: :: http://www.halcyon.com/FWDP/cwisinfo.html :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: DOCUMENT: CLIMATE1.TXT INUIT CIRCUMPOLAR CONFERENCE BACKGROUNDER ON CLIMATE CHANGE CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE CIRCUMPOLAR REGION 1. In a scientific report prepared for review by governments at the Second Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that human activities are having a discernible influence on climate change. In particular the Second Assessment Report (SAR) of the IPCC states that during the past few decades, human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, land-use change and agriculture, are increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (which tend to warm the atmosphere) and in some regions, aerosols (microscopic airborne particles which tend to cool the atmosphere). The combined effect of greenhouse gases and aerosols are expected to change regional and global climate and climate-related parameters such as temperature, precipitation, soil moisture and sea level. One of the most significant conclusions of the SAR is its projection that a doubling of carbon dioxide concentrations in the earth's atmosphere will occur around the year 2030 and that as a consequence of this doubling (if preventative measures are not taken), the climate system will respond with an increase in global mean surface temperature of approximately 2 C by 2100 (relative to 1990). Further, the region north of 50 N is expected to warm over the same period (1990-2100) an average 3 C to 5 C, with the greatest warming in late autumn and winter, due largely to sea-ice forming later in the warmer climate. 2. Warming is already being observed in the Canadian North and parts of the circumpolar Arctic. The Mackenzie Basin, a 1.8 million sq. km2 water shed in Northwestern Canada has warmed an average 1.5 C over the last 100 years, three times the global rate (0.3 C to 0.6 C). Alaska and Siberia have warmed at similar rates. Canadian scientists looking at the impact of this warming in the Mackenzie, report historically low water levels, localized melting of permafrost, and increased erosion and landslides. 3. The five worst forest fire seasons on record have all occurred since 1980 and the Canadian forest is currently a source of carbon to the atmosphere rather than taking up carbon (acting as a sink ) as it did from 1920-1980. 4. Warming has been greatest in winter and spring, particularly in the Mackenzie Valley, the Bering Strait and Lake Baykal in Russia. Temperatures in Scandinavia and western Siberia show no trends, while temperatures around Greenland and Baffin Island in Canada's eastern Arctic have cooled slightly over the last 30 years. Most models predict a region of minimum warming or even localized cooling in the northern North Atlantic. 5. A Canadian scientist has concluded that, the expected change of temperature in the Arctic is 2 to 2 1/2 times any given warming of the surface of the whole planet, with warming and its effects such as reduction in sea-ice likely to be observed first in the Barents Sea and along the coast of Eurasia (thus opening the Northeast Passage), then in the central Arctic Ocean and north of Alaska, and perhaps lastly in the northern Canadian archipelago. The response of the largest Arctic ice mass, the Greenland ice sheet, to warmer climate can not yet be predicted with certainty. 6. All climate models predict an increase in global mean precipitation and precipitation increases in high northern latitudes in winter (except around the Norwegian Sea because of cooling). The warming of atmosphere leads to higher atmospheric water vapour content and enhanced poleward water vapour convergence and precipitation. Trend information from Kahl et. al. (1993) suggests that annual precipitation has increased in Northwest Canada and Alaska, Eastern Canadian Arctic and Greenland, Scandinavia, North Central Russia, with no trend in extreme Northeast Russia. Models suggest that fall/winter snowfall could increase in excess of 24% in the Mackenzie Region. 7. The IPCC reports these observed trends for the cryosphere: - Mass loss and retreat of mountain glaciers during the 20th century is striking all over the world. The extent of alpine ice in some mountain systems is probably more reduced today than at any time during the past 5,000 years. - Borehole measurements show that permafrost is warming. - For river and lake ice in many northern lands, there is a trend for later freeze-up and earlier break up dates. - There is no convincing evidence of trends in global sea ice extent, but ice retreat and thinning may have already triggered an ocean response in the central gyre region of the Greenland Sea. 8. The Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre in Norway reported in May 1996 that over the period 1978-1994, ice extent (the area within the ice-ocean margin) and ice area (the area of ice-covered ocean) decreased 4.5% and 5.6% respectively. The decrease in overall ice concentration was 1.8%. This means that ice cover became less compact over the period, the first time that such a trend has been established. 9. Future warming would have a serious impact on ice-based ecosystems of the North. According to IPCC, projected warming of the climate will substantially reduce the real extent and volume of the cryosphere (ice). This reduction will have significant impacts on related ecosystems and on social and economic activities. Glacerized and permafrost areas will be among the most heavily affected parts of the world in the event of accelerated future warming. When accompanied by increasing activities of people, striking changes in landscape of many high mountain ranges and of the Arctic will result. 10. In the absence of mitigating or preventative measures to stop the increases in greenhouse gases, a recent Canadian government report states: In the case of natural ecosystems and the ice world (cryosphere) and high mountains, there are few or no possibilities for adaptation, and major losses can be expected. In cold mountain climates and in the Canadian Arctic, major losses of habitat and existing species of wildlife can be expected. Over the longer term these are likely to be replaced by other species to the extent that biodiversity could be increased. CONCLUSION If allowed to continue unchecked, climate change will have significant and prolonged impacts on the environment of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions and the indigenous peoples who depend on that environment. The distribution of plant and animal life will change in response to habitat changes as climate conditions change. Climate inducted changes of habitat could have negative impacts on existing species. For example, increased snow cover in winter and insect harassment in summer is expected to reduce caribou weight as more energy is expended digging for food and fending off insects, leaving less energy for feeding. Reductions in Arctic sea-ice will have serious impacts on coastal erosion and microscopic plant life with impacts on fish, then seals and, in turn, polar bears. Sea ice also plays a significant role in global climate with reductions affecting atmosphere and ocean circulation. Rapid climate change would be a serious threat to Arctic indigenous peoples lifestyles and capacity for sustainable development. The key to slowing the rate of climate change is to significantly slow the rate of greenhouse gas emissions. The projections of the IPCC SAR are based on assessing the implications of a doubling of carbon dioxide. Therefore, a doubling must be avoided, that is -- concentrations of greenhouse gases must be kept below 550 ppmv of CO2 equivalent. Achieving this target requires steep and immediate reductions of greenhouse gas emissions by Annex 1 (developed) Parties. These commitments must be incorporated into a legally binding protocol with a target of at least 20% reductions by 2005 to be signed at the Third Conference of the Parties meeting in Japan in 1997. Furthermore, the United Nations and its Member States will be asked by the Inuit Circumpolar Conference to respect the principles of Agenda 21 by providing for the participation of indigenous peoples in the planning and implementation of action plans on climate change and including indigenous peoples knowledge system as part of the global study of this problem. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wendy Moss Special Assistant to the President Inuit Circumpolar Conference 170 Laurier Ave. W., Suite 500 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5V5 tel: (613) 563-4967 fax: (613) 563-0740 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- To have a current Center For World Indigenous Studies Publication Catalogue sent to you via e-mail, send a request to jburrows@halcyon.com http://www.halcyon.com/FWDP/cwiscat.html Center For World Indigenous Studies P.O. Box 2574 Olympia, WA U.S.A. 98507-2574 FAX: 360-956-1087 OCR Provided by Caere Corporation's OmniPage Professional