The Arctic climate is changing at a rapid pace compared to most other places in the world, which also implies that climate adaptation and disaster handling becomes essential to ensure societal safety in settlements in the High Arctic. Climate adaptation and societal safety contribute to sustainable community development in the Arctic by 1) climate adaptation measures to ensure societal safety in natural hazard prone communities (social sustainability) and 2) avoiding and reducing the consequences of climate related natural hazard disasters and by ensuring that solutions such as Build Back Better in risky areas represents an economically sustainable solution (economic sustainability)
The overall objective of the project is to generate new knowledge about current and future climate adaptation and handling of natural hazard events in remote settlements in the Arctic fostering sustainability and resilience. Secondary research objectives are to develop new knowledge and solutions related to 1) the climate risk picture and community resilience, 2) early warning systems, 3) relocation from high-risk areas, 4) emergency preparedness and crisis management, and 5) transfer of climate adaptation experience from the Arctic.
The theoretical approach and methodology consist of a combination of a risk governance model, action research, and the use of mixed methods. While risk governance provides a framework to handle systemic risks across actors, action research promotes active participation and practical results with added value for Arctic societies. Four use cases in three contexts will be studied in close collaboration with local stakeholders: Longyearbyen (Svalbard, Norway); Tassilaq (Greenland, Denmark); and Seyðisfjörður and Neskaupstaður (Iceland).
Novel aspects of the project is knowledge on climate adaptation, which is lagging both in the Arctic and globally. Experiences from the High Arctic will be valuable for other parts of the Arctic and the rest of the world. Another original aspect of the project is the participatory approach with close collaboration and exchange of experience across communities in the High Arctic, both indigenous and other local communities. The interdisciplinary set-up of the research team is an original aspect of the project, since there is a lack of an interdisciplinary societal safety perspectives on climate change, natural hazards and adaptation.
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