| Zdroj: |
DeSimone, J, Clarke, C, Kraj, A, Bjørst, L R, Kristjánsdóttir, S & Cecilia Krook Riekkola, A 2023, ' A Green Transition in and for the Arctic (Fulbright Arctic Initiative III Policy Brief) ', FULBRIGHT ARCTIC INITIATIVE | POLICY BRIEF, pp. 9-11 . < https://fulbrightscholars.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/Fulbright_Arctic_Policy_Brief_2023.pdf > |
| Popis: |
The Arctic is undergoing transformational change. Over the last 50 years, the Arctic has warmed three times faster than the world as a whole (AMAP 2021). Thawing permafrost, sea-level rise and rising temperatures are changing the landscape and living reality for the people of this ecological vulnerable region. In parallel and in response, the Green Transition agenda has been advanced by governments and industry. These efforts have been accelerated further with the war in Ukraine, a global economic recession, and continuing extreme climate events, such as flooding, local forest fires, and extreme heat waves. To meet the global challenge and the 2015 Paris Agreement goals, the world’s energy systems must transition away from fossil fuels. The Arctic could be an important provider of both resources (material and energy) and carbon storage needed for the global transition and thus take up a new strategic role because of the green transition. However, local engagement and consideration must be paramount in the process. Government initiatives that encourage, facilitate, and ensure robust local participation in decision-making, long-term benefits, and equity consideration need to be strengthened and expanded. As of today, in many, if not not most regions Arctic lack physical as well as knowledge and policy infrastructure for a successful engagement in the Green Transition. Building and planning new infrastructure in an Arctic setting given the challenges of thawing permafrost, extreme weather events and lack of connectivity, makes road construction and power lines expensive and challenging to develop. In parallel, robust policies and inclusive knowledge processes to advance local needs and priorities, will ensure efficacy of local voices, more complete understandings of the risks and opportunities, strengthen evidence-based decision-making, and reduce frictions that may slow the Green transition locally. Indigenous peoples, especially in North America, populate a large portion of the Arctic region. Currently, it is important that national government policy ensure Indigenous peoples’ priorities are fully considered when it comes to the Green Transition and climate change policies. Furthermore, the policies need to include an understanding of climate change, geopolitics, and ethical considerations that is Arctic specific. Thus, this policy brief recommends developing a better knowledge infrastructure, physical infrastructure (built environment) as well as policy infrastructure for a successful Green Transition in the Arctic. |
