A-ANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
FEATURE STORY
Amy Chang, MS Gina Bare, RN
Jesse Bliss, MPH, PhD National Environmental Health Association Jackie Qataliña Schaeffer Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Angutekaraq Estelle Thomson Native Village of Paimiut Nicole Schmitt Alaska Wildlife Alliance David T. Dyjack, DrPH, CIH National Environmental Health Association ronmental injustice, and social inequities. In this article, we call attention to the impact of climate change on AN communities and highlight resources environmental public health professionals can use when engaging with these communities. Alaska and Its Unique Challenges Alaska is at the forefront of climate change, which is impacting people, wildlife, and the environment. AN communities are dispropor- tionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their deep socioeconomic ties with ecological systems and the institutional barriers that limit their ability to adapt to rapid environmental and social changes (Gray et al., 2018; U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, 2023). As the largest state in the U.S., Alaska is almost one fifth the size of the combined lower 48 states. Located on the northwest extremity of North America, the northern one third of the state lies above the Arctic Circle and is abun- dant with natural resources and is economi- cally dependent on oil, mining, fishing, and tourism (State of Alaska, n.d.). Alaska is home to 40% of the nearly 600 federally recognized tribal nations in the U.S. (U.S. Climate Resil- ience Toolkit, 2023). Alaska’s climate has been warming 3 to 4 times as quickly as the global average since the 1950s (Rantanen et al., 2018). In De- cember 2022, Utqiagvik, the state’s north- ernmost community, hit a record high of 40 °F, the warmest temperature on record for that season (Borenstein, 2022). A warmer climate has impacts that stretch across the
Impact of Climate Change on Alaska Natives
Abstract Alaska, with its unique geographical and ecological characteristics, is experiencing the detrimental eects of climate change at an alarming rate. The Alaska Native (AN) population, deeply connected to the land and its resources, faces disproportionate vulnerability to these impacts. We call attention to climate change impacts on AN food sovereignty, mental and behavioral health, cultural and spiritual practices, resiliency and adaptation, and how local Alaskan organizations are addressing climate change impacts. This article also highlights the urgent need for environmental public health professionals to engage with AN and Native American communities, address health inequities, and participate in mitigation and adaptation eorts to address the environmental public health threats and consequences of climate change. Increasing awareness of climate- related health impacts on these communities is crucial and immediate actions are needed to support safer, healthier, and more sustainable and climate-resilient communities. Government agencies at all levels should also seek to integrate perspectives from Indigenous Peoples, engage in co-management strategies, and provide equitable funding and support for Indigenous communities. Unity, resilience, and adaptation become attainable goals by joining communities in caring for the environment. This message resonates not only in Alaska but also globally, highlighting the need for collective action in the face of climate change.
I ntroduction The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion (CDC), are committed to elevating and raising awareness of the environmental public health concerns that are disproportionately
impacting the Native American and Alaska Native (AN) populations. Environmental public health professionals play a critical role in addressing the health and well-being of their communities and environment, and are well-positioned to address health inequities that are exacerbated by climate change, envi-
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