CHAPTER 1 CLIMATE CHANGE – AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC · The present discussion about the impacts of climate change in the North is
M ost public discussions on climate change – and the potential ecological and economic impacts this may have - focus on the ong
the key drivers in the economy are causing a shift from natural resource to human resource dependency. As an illustration of th
Belt. This may lead to the conveyor belt phenomenon stopping and thereby bringing to a halt the most important mechanism taking
Climate change - and the land Two main environmental factors on land are impacted by changes in climate: the composition and po
globalization, however, have been restructuring the fundamental situation in the region. As populations grow and as local econo
in storm patterns and precipitation, which again influences crop production and the need to adapt traditional drainage systems
sensitive, raising a series of questions that need to be resolved internationally. These questions include, for example: Who ow
Østerbygd Vesterbygd Iceland Faroe Islands The Norse Settlers: Adapting to Climate Change through the Centuries Historically, I
Eventually, around 300 farmsteads were established in southeast Greenland – Østerbygd became the first and most heavily populat
may have seen little immediate benefit in expending any effort in Vinland, so the settlement soon disappeared. The people of Ic
CHAPTER 4 CLIMATE CHANGE – AND THE POPULATION · While most of the discussions regarding changes in the North Atlantic Region ar
olar bears, glaciers and educated women. Are they endangered species in the rural North Atlantic? It seems that in the very nea
ago – one has to fly by way of Oslo and often Copenhagen. All movement in the Nordic countries, and indeed in the Arctic, seems
working age population exists with many children. When individuals reach familyfounding age, mobility rapidly decreases and the
this is where gender becomes such a critical factor. In the early 1990s, women became a majority group in higher education, but
changes fundamentally affect women and their job opportunities. Figure 1 (above) shows how women’s jobs for the most part centr
Migration Migration is strongly concentrated in the life-cycle stages where a person either starts or finishes education, enter
opportunities that fit their qualifications, and to gain opportunities beyond the traditional economic activities in their old
Outmigration of the young people, and especially young er women, leaves many villages in the North Atlantic region such as Allu
Economic and social change, as well as climate change, are shaping the demands made of local, regional and even national author
The extent of vulnerability and resilience to climate change and social change depends not only on cultural aspects and ecosyst
Faroese Towns Respond to Change Faroe Islands The North Atlantic Region is characterized by dependency on available natural res
When the crisis really hit in 1990, a dramatic increase in emigration appeared simultaneously with a decline in immigration. Af
Klaksvík is the major fisheries town in the Faroe Islands. Photo: Árni Conradsson Strategies for the reconstruction A reconstru
workers were also affected. Many people initially left the island, but today the total workforce has risen to a total of 700, d
CHAPTER 5 CLIMATE CHANGE – AND LIVING RESOURCES · Living resources are still crucial for the North Atlantic region. In fisherie
T he North Atlantic Region has always been closely connected to the living resources in the region as the basis for existence a
challenges for breeding individuals is to match food supply to breeding and offspring requirements. However, prey availability
permanent change in the climate than herring migrations. It is also expected that climate change will influence the exploitatio
display only minor seasonal shifts. Year-to-year variability in distribution patterns may also be pronounced. Other researchers
the various fisheries. Discussions, for instance, revolve around changing fishing gear, for the first time aiming at a switch t
where it became difficult to bring a ship ashore. Greenland became more or less inaccessible, and the lack of the trading linka
crops in the spring, earlier maturation and harvesting. As a consequence, crop-producing areas may expand further north, althou
including the destruction of wetlands, contribute another 8% or so to the total. Agriculture ranks third, after energy consumpt
Sámi Reindeer Industry Challenged by the Climate Irregular winters According to the Research Centre Norut, the reindeer industr
Hedmark). The other region (Nord-Trøndelag, Nordland, Troms) is less favourable because of the oceanic influence on the winter
The reindeer roundup begins in late autumn, early winter and is among the most important activities of the year for reindeer he
Many of these areas are, on the other hand, much influenced by infrastructure development, which may generate a situation where