Stressors or Stresses? Addressing the Nuanaces of Multiple Stressors in Human Dimensions of Climate Change Scholarship in the Arctic

• Main Authors: Lede, Eric, Pearce, T, Furgal, C
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: ArcticNet Inc. 2016
• Subjects: FoR 0502 (Environmental Science and Management); Arctic; ArcticNet; Climate change; inuit
• Online Access: http://www.arcticnetmeetings.ca/asm2016/docs/abstracts.pdf

This poster examines key conceptual nuances of multiple stressors in human dimensions of climate change (HDCC) scholarship. They include: (i) the internal vs. external nature of stressors, (ii) context disaggregation, and (iii) the application of the nirvana fallacy. Inuit are experiencing climate change in the context of multiple climatic and non-climatic stressors that are already affecting lives and livelihoods. Research shows that in many instances non-climatic stressors can be strategic policy entry points for enhancing adaptive capacity to deal with current and future climate change; supporting efforts that increase financial, health, educational and cultural capacity in communities has been shown to inadvertently enhance the capacity of individuals and the community to deal with current and expected future climate change risks. To date, however, the conceptualisation of multiple stressors in HDCC scholarship has been unclear, often resulting in a simplistic cause and effect interpretation of how Inuit experience and respond to climate change. It is argued that by exploring and unpacking some of the key nuances of the multiple stressors concept, we can advance HDCC scholarship and contribute to the development and implementation of effective climate change adaptation strategies in the Arctic and elsewhere around the world. This research is part of ArcticNet Project “Community Vulnerability, Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change in the Arctic.”