Adaptation Planning for Climate Change and Subsistence Economies in Two Inuvialuit Communities

Climate change is already being experienced in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) in Canada's Northwest Territories (NWT) with implications for ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Changes in temperature, seasonal patterns, and sea ice and wind dynamics are affecting travel routes to hunting areas, community infrastructure and are exacerbating hazards associated with travel and subsistence. These effects have implications for food security, the integrity of buildings and transportation infrastructure, resource development and culture. This project is working with community members, local stakeholders, scientists and policy makers in the region to develop climate change adaptation plans. Working primarily in two communities (Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok), the project focuses on adaptation planning in five sectors: subsistence harvesting, health and well-being, culture and learning, transportation and infrastructure, and economy and business. The aim is to create preliminary, practical, community-driven adaptation plans to address the effects of climate change and develop a transferable model for community-based adaptation planning. This paper describes the methodology used to develop climate change adaptation plans and offers insights on preliminary findings from the work. Specifically, the paper focuses on the use of participatory community-based research methodologies to identify key exposures to climate risks, and identify and assess adaptation options.