Climate change and human rights : the implications that climate change has on the human rights of the Inupiat in Barrow, Alaska

• Main Author: Hildur Sólveig Elvarsdóttir 1985-
• Other Authors: Háskólinn á Akureyri
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Polar law; Lögfræði; Heimskautaréttur; Loftslagsbreytingar; Frumbyggjar; Alaska; Meistaraprófsritgerðir; Arctic; Barrow; Climate change; Inupiat
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/5646

This thesis has the goal of putting a different picture on climate change; replace the one of the starving polar bear swimming in an iceless sea with one of a sunburned Inupiat child. Although climate change is a main topic on the tongues of society today, the discussion very often does not focus on those who will be most affected by climate change, indigenous peoples. This is of grave concern considering that indigenous peoples are those individuals in society whose human rights will most suffer as the climate changes and whose cultures and livelihoods are at risk of extinction. Although the outlook for the Inupiat is not always a positive one, this thesis encourages adaptation to deal with climate change. The Inupiat can be leaders when it comes to adaptation strategies, especially since their culture and lives have been able to adapt to the Arctic living conditions since time immemorial. A hopeful image will be presented in the conclusion of this thesis, presenting a picture of Inupiat life full of culture. Despite the drastic implications that climate change will and already has on the Inupiat, they can and will survive as a culture.