Ethical communication to guide climate policy decisions in the Arctic

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Behl, Mona
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2016
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Arctic; Climate change; Ice; permafrost; Polar Record; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247416000152; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247416000152

ABSTRACT Recent records of increasing temperature, melting of sea-ice, retreating glaciers, thawing permafrost, increasing sea levels, and increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events provide clear evidence of global climate change, particularly in the Arctic. The impacts of climate change are not only environmental, but also influence social, economic, psychological, and political conditions in the region. The confluence of these conditions emphasises the need for improved communication of climate information and formulation of ethical responses to address changes in the Arctic. This review explores the meaning of ethical communication followed by an overview of the barriers to ethical communication including uncertainties related to climate change, and constructions of varying interpretations of climate change due to discipline-specific perspectives of science, journalism, and law, in the Arctic. The final section of this paper summarises key elements of ethical communication, and integration of ethical principles in formulating decision-making strategies to address climate change in the Arctic.