3 December, 2010 – Cancun, Mexico – The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), representing Inuit from Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and Chukotka, Russia, released a document today urging global leaders assembled for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Cancun to take strong action to prevent further impacts of climate change in the Arctic. The Inuit Arctic homeland has been at the epicenter of climate change, and scientists continue to document unprecedented levels of sea ice loss and ecosystem impacts. The future of the ice-dependent ecosystems and the livelihood of Inuit are in great danger.
The Inuit Call to Global Leaders outlines five actions that are critical to protecting the Arctic. AqqalukLynge, Chair of ICC, summarized Inuit priorities for action: “Our region has warmed faster than any region in the world, with significant impacts on our ability to practice subsistence hunting, use our renewable resources and to protect our culture for future generations. We need strict, binding emissions reductions to prevent further warming.” Mr. Lynge also identified adaptation as a priority for Inuit. “We support effortsto create an international adaptation fund, and urge the international community to make funding and technical assistance available to affected peoples in all parts of the world who are experiencing the worsteffects of climate change.”
Currently, the international adaptation framework does not allow Inuit or other indigenous peoples in developed countries to access assistance for adaptation. ICC hopes that the next internationalagreement will include reference to “peoples” who are at risk and vulnerable to climate change impacts rather than focusing on “states,” since vulnerability to climate change is regional and local in nature. “There are some states that are vulnerable as a whole, such as small island nation states. But in general, people experience climate change impacts at the local and regional level, and this is where adaptationassistance should be made available,” Mr. Lynge explained.
Vice President of ICC-Canada, Kirt Ejesiak, was in Cancun today to voice Inuit concerns and work with other affected regions and peoples. He joined leaders from the Arctic and small island developing states to exchange and share information about the impact of climate change on food security and humanrights. “Inuit are creative, adaptive, and forward-looking. We welcome partnerships and opportunities to share best practices on mitigation and adaptation so that we can support our communities in their effortsto adapt to change.”
For more information, contact:
Kirt Ejesiak
Vice President, ICC Canada ICC Executive Council Member Ph: + 1 613 898 1639kejesiak@inuitcircumpolar.com
Carole Simon
Executive Assistant
ICC Canada Office
Ph: + 1 613 563 2642csimon@inuitcircumpolar.com