The Right to Sea Ice: Canadian Arctic Policy and Inuit Knowledge

Abstract

In Western society, the Arctic region is often reduced to scientific data and its potential economic value in both cooling the globe and extracting natural resources. Since climate change can potentially change current Western lifestyles, the Arctic has been of increasing interest scientifically and economically. The planet’s global mean surface temperature has risen almost two degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century, mostly driven by human-made emissions and increased carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Data from the 2004 Arctic Climate Impact Assessment showed that the Arctic is warming at almost twice the rate of the global mean temperature, emphasizing the persistent research in the Arctic spanning decades. Arctic temperatures are projected to increase another 4-7 degrees over the next 100 years due to greenhouse gas emissions leading to significant changes in the Arctic environment.