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Arctic Science 2000 - Crossing Borders: Science and Community
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, Sept 21-24 2000
American Association for the Advancement of Science & Yukon Science Institute

Knowledge into Action: Barriers to and Opportunities for Formulating Responses to Climate Change in the North

The unique geography, economy, social and political situation in the North creates barriers to and opportunities for formulating responses to climate change. While many studies indicate that the northern climate is indeed changing, most of the current literature and research focuses on increasing our level of understanding of the potential impacts rather than formulating strategies to address them. In early 2000, the Northern Climate ExChange was established to provide a mechanism for taking action on climate change in the North. Drawing from current literature and community consultation, this paper will provide insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with transfer of knowledge into action in the North. The long distances separating communities, the diverse environmental conditions, and the fact that the majority of studies are conducted by researchers from outside the region all pose distinct challenges to developing regional responses to climate change. The familiarity of community-based decision making, the strong connection between human and natural systems, the increasing desire of northern researchers to develop research questions that are relevant to community needs, and the growing accessibility of research results all offer tremendous opportunities for developing consensus-based action on climate change in the North. The perspectives provided in this paper are intended to contribute to advancing the dialogue on climate change to include the development of strategies for action.

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