Eroding Lives and Landscapes: Non-Economic Loss and Damage from Climate-Induced Erosion in Alaska

Beskrivelse

This proposal presents a planned case study within the LostToClimate research project that will examine how rapid climatic change is disrupting traditional and Indigenous subsistence food systems in rural Alaska, and how these disruptions contribute to profound forms of non-economic loss. The study will focus on how rising temperatures, accelerating permafrost thaw, intensifying storms, and shifting seasonal patterns collectively reshape access to culturally significant food sources. These environmental changes are altering hunting, fishing, and gathering practices, challenging long-established conservation techniques, and, in some regions, causing seasonal or long-term loss of essential species such as salmon and caribou. In addition, increasingly unpredictable freeze–thaw cycles and unstable ice conditions jeopardize travel safety and affect the transport of store-bought foods to remote communities, further contributing to food insecurity.
The loss of subsistence food systems carries deep social and cultural implications, diminishing community cohesion and weakening connections to identity, place, and nationhood. As subsistence practices are central to individual and collective well-being, disruptions also influence human health, quality of life, and the continuity of intergenerational knowledge. The proposed research will investigate these dynamics through interviews, community-based mapping, and participatory workshops designed to foreground lived experience and Indigenous expertise.
The study will also assess the adaptation measures communities are implementing or considering, including shifts to alternative species, adjustments in seasonal activities, increased reliance on store-bought or processed foods, use of food assistance programs, and, in some cases, migration or discussion of relocation. While these strategies may reduce immediate risks, they also entail trade-offs, including cultural erosion, declining social cohesion, a diminished sense of place, and additional psychological and physical health challenges. By documenting these evolving experiences, the case study will contribute to a deeper understanding of climate-related non-economic losses and support the development of equitable, culturally grounded adaptation pathways.

Periode	25 jun. 2026
Begivenhedstitel	Nordic Geographers Meeting: Restless geographies
Begivenhedstype	Konference
Konferencenummer	11
Placering	Reykjavík, IslandVis på kort
Grad af anerkendelse	International