The ice is melting under their feet. The changing climate also threatens the lives of Eskimos

“There is no natural process to explain this rate of change. That is, the warming of the Arctic and the loss or thinning of sea ice, “climatologist Zachary Labe from Colorado State University told ABC News.

Arctic regions are feeling the effects of climate change faster than other parts of the world. Alaskan climate specialist Richard Thoman of the International Arctic Research Center explained that the reason is the absorption capacity of the seas. “Most greenhouse gas emissions are absorbed by the ocean, so it is heated. And for that reason, the ice melts from below until it melts completely. The new ice that replaces it is weaker and more dangerous to life. ”

The most famous image associated with climate change and the Arctic is a polar bear. But according to Thoman, the changes can have far more serious consequences. Even for people. These are communities in remote parts of the Arctic that could lose water resources, fishing grounds and infrastructure. When the ice melts, or the weakened one is torn by storms, the Inuit will have nowhere to live, where to anchor.

Whales as a source of livelihood

Around 150,000 people live in the Arctic. Most of them are indigenous people, they are scattered on the islands of Alaska and Canada and in Greenland. Councils of older tribes from northern Alaska said in a report issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last year that they registered declining species diversity in their territories, making them less and less hunting, which is their main source of livelihood. They also drew attention to the massive erosion of coastal strips and the melting of permafrost.

Roberta Tuurraq Glenn hails from Utqiagvik, Alaska. She is currently studying geology and coastal erosion as a graduate student at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. Roberta brought the issue of indigenous peoples closer to ABC News. Her community hunts whales for food all year round. It still sells parts of cetaceans after processing. But due to the loss of sea ice, hunting is becoming more dangerous and unpredictable.

“Weather conditions and the fragility of the ice do not allow crews to get out of the boats, it’s just too dangerous. If we don’t have the opportunity to train, if we can’t go hunting, then we won’t be able to feed our people, “she said.

The last ice

The National Geographic filmmaker lived with the polar tribes in Canada and Greenland while working on his new documentary, The Last Ice. The film premiered on the TV channel of a famous magazine this month.

Source: Youtube

“It started as a film about the environment. We wanted to find out how the loss of ice affects the animals. But in the end, it’s a film about the effects of climate change on indigenous peoples, about their lives on disappearing ice, culture and traditions, “he told ABC News. The film also captures the growing pressure of big players on oil extraction or on the intensifying ocean transport in the area.

“Everyone who is important knows that new fishing grounds are opening up here right now. That new transport routes are opening up. That now, as the ice quickly disappears, they will finally be able to drill to the bottom. He sees the Arctic as a source of profit. The problem is that it does not respect the traditional culture and rights of indigenous peoples. At the same time, it is necessary to realize that any ecological accident in the already fragile ecosystem of the Arctic would be threatening, “added Sala.

Nevertheless, Inuit Robert Tuurraq Glenn does not see the future of her community completely tragically. “The environment is changing and our people know damn well. Our lives depend on our ability to cope with these changes. I do not believe that our people and culture will become extinct, just because of these changes. We can adapt, “she added.

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