Global Warming:Global Warming: Alaska on the Front Alaska on the Front

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Global Warming:Global Warming: Alaska on the Front Alaska on the Front

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Frances Raskin

Trustees for Alaska

Surface Air Temperature Trends 1942-2003

Chapman and Walsh, 2004

Human Rights PetitionHuman Rights Petition

• Time is running out for the Arctic. We Time is running out for the Arctic. We need far-reaching, long-term  global need far-reaching, long-term  global commitments to reduce emissions of commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases if the  Arctic is to greenhouse gases if the  Arctic is to be protected and if our human rights, be protected and if our human rights, particularly our  human rights to particularly our  human rights to subsistence, are to be respected." subsistence, are to be respected."

— — Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Chair - Inuit Circumpolar ConferenceSheila Watt-Cloutier, Chair - Inuit Circumpolar Conference

Massachusetts v. EPAMassachusetts v. EPA• EPA refuses to regulate greenhouse gas EPA refuses to regulate greenhouse gas

emissions from automobilesemissions from automobiles

• Federal Appeals Court fails to address Federal Appeals Court fails to address whether CAA requires EPA to regulatewhether CAA requires EPA to regulate

• 12 States, D.C., Baltimore, NYC, Samoa, 12 States, D.C., Baltimore, NYC, Samoa, and environmental groups ask Supreme and environmental groups ask Supreme Court to review decision of D.C CircuitCourt to review decision of D.C Circuit

• Trustees for Alaska weighs in on behalf of Trustees for Alaska weighs in on behalf of Alaska Native organizations: AITC, CATG, Alaska Native organizations: AITC, CATG, REDOILREDOIL

ClientsClients• Alaska Inter-Tribal Council: statewide, Alaska Inter-Tribal Council: statewide,

tribally governed, non-profit organization tribally governed, non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of about 200 that advocates on behalf of about 200 Alaska tribal governments.Alaska tribal governments.

• Council of Athabascan Tribal Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments: consortium of ten Tribes in Governments: consortium of ten Tribes in Alaska’s northeastern Interior, including Alaska’s northeastern Interior, including nine Gwich’in and one Koyukon nine Gwich’in and one Koyukon Athabascan Tribes. Athabascan Tribes.

• Resisting Environmental Destruction on Resisting Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands (REDOIL): a project of Indigenous Lands (REDOIL): a project of the Indigenous Environmental Network.the Indigenous Environmental Network.

Four Other Global Warming Four Other Global Warming Cases in Federal Court Cases in Federal Court

• D.C. Circuit: States, cities and environmental D.C. Circuit: States, cities and environmental groups sue EPA for failing to regulate groups sue EPA for failing to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from stationary greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources. Trustees for Alaska plans to file brief sources. Trustees for Alaska plans to file brief on behalf of Alaska Natives.on behalf of Alaska Natives.

• Second Circuit (New York): Eight states, NYC, Second Circuit (New York): Eight states, NYC, and environmental groups sue six major and environmental groups sue six major utilities for contributing to global warming. utilities for contributing to global warming. Trustees for Alaska files brief on behalf of Trustees for Alaska files brief on behalf of Alaska Natives.Alaska Natives.

• Ninth Circuit (San Francisco): Two separate Ninth Circuit (San Francisco): Two separate cases challenge corporate average fuel cases challenge corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. Center for economy (CAFE) standards. Center for Biological Diversity, several states challenge Biological Diversity, several states challenge process, failure to consider greenhouse gas process, failure to consider greenhouse gas emissions.emissions.

• Second Circuit (New York): Natural Resources Second Circuit (New York): Natural Resources Defense Council files similar case.Defense Council files similar case.

• All three cases likely to be consolidated in All three cases likely to be consolidated in Ninth Circuit.Ninth Circuit.

• Trustees for Alaska plans to file brief on Trustees for Alaska plans to file brief on behalf of Alaska Natives.behalf of Alaska Natives.

Snow and IceSnow and Ice Since 1979, Arctic sea ice has shrunk by an area twice the size of Texas.

Permanent ice is thinning and the duration of ice-free conditions is extending.

The Arctic is predicted to be ice free in the summer by 2100.

Changes Too Rapid for Wildlife To Changes Too Rapid for Wildlife To AdaptAdapt

MMS scientists witness polar bear drownings

Walrus forced to abandon pups

Caribou forage decreasing

New pests and disease

Extinctions ImminentExtinctions Imminent

Ancient People and Culture Ancient People and Culture ThreatenedThreatened

“Traditional activities, such as hunting, fishing and gathering of plants, are crucial to Alaskan Native peoples' way of life. Even subtle changes in temperature over the long term can affect our ability to live . . . We need a healthy environment to fully preserve our traditional values, culture and spirituality." - Art Ivanoff, Unalakleet

Native Knowledge Critical to Understanding of Historical Native Knowledge Critical to Understanding of Historical Changes Changes

““Global warming is a threat to Global warming is a threat to the very existence of Alaska the very existence of Alaska Native people’s livelihood, Native people’s livelihood, the effects are profound, and the effects are profound, and we see that in every aspect of we see that in every aspect of our traditional way of life, our traditional way of life, culture, subsistence, health culture, subsistence, health and spirituality.”and spirituality.”

—— Faith Gemmill, REDOILFaith Gemmill, REDOIL

Erosion and FloodingErosion and Flooding

Nome

ShishmarefGolovin

September 2005: Storm surges reach 9 feet, waves 15 feet. 34 communities affected.

GAO estimates that 20 villages must be relocated.

It will cost between $100 – $400 million to move Kivalina, a village of about 395 people.

Villages Losing GroundVillages Losing GroundShishmaref lost as much as 50 feet of coastal land in a single storm. In the past 30 years, 100 to 300 feet of coast has washed away, half of it since 1997.

Sea Level Rise Will Inundate Sea Level Rise Will Inundate CommunitiesCommunities

June July

South Fairbanks smoke, June 2004South Fairbanks smoke, June 2004

Areas Susceptible to Sea Areas Susceptible to Sea Level RiseLevel Rise

Scientific CollaborationScientific Collaboration

• Document Native KnowledgeDocument Native Knowledge

• Support Native ObservationsSupport Native Observations

• Valuable for Legal ArgumentValuable for Legal Argument

• May Produce SolutionsMay Produce Solutions