Climate change effects felt

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The effects of global warming are no longer just fodder for theoretical debate among scientists - they are already affecting people around the world.

This is the message delivered at the Sixth Session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP-6), held in The Hague Nov. 13 to 24. UNFCCC participants were trying to reach an agreement on implementation of the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, which established targets for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Evidence of the dramatic effect climate change is having in Canada-s Arctic was presented in the form of a video produced by the Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Sila Alangotok: Inuit Observations on Climate Change chronicles the experiences of the people of Sachs Harbour on Banks Island in the northwest Arctic, who are being directly affected by warming temperatures. Permafrost is melting, ice is thinning, the autumn freeze-up comes later and the spring thaw arrives earlier. Thunder and lightning storms are occurring for the first time.

Hunting is becoming difficult, with venturing out on the thinning ice in search of seals and polar bears growing treacherous, and melting permafrost hindering travel on land.

New species of birds, fish, mammals and insects are moving into the area, while behaviour, growth and numbers of those traditionally in the area are being affected. The foundations of many buildings are shifting because of melting permafrost, and land is slumping along the coast and lake shores.

Jennifer Castleden, a project officer with IISD, was in The Hague for COP-6. She said the video project got started about a year-and-a-half ago, when Rosemarie Kuptana, an IISD board member and resident of Sachs Harbour, brought the dramatic climate changes to their attention. A decision was made to initiate the project as "a very good way to communicate to southern audiences and to audiences around the world that climate change is a reality," Castleden explained.

Castleden said Nov. 16 there were a lot of requests from COP-6 delegates for copies of the video to take back home to show to their ministries, which is something the IISD hoped would happen.

"We were hoping to get the video in front of decision-makers and policy makers who are dealing with it, so that they know that the issue is real, and it-s happening now."

Despite initial optimism among delegates, the COP-6 talks were suspended without an agreement being reached. A seventh round of talks have been scheduled for Morocco next fall to continue negotiations.

"I think there was a lot of disappointment on everyone?s part," Castleden said during a second interview following suspension of talks.

With any international agreement on implementing the Kyoto Protocol likely at least a year away, the IISD will continue to use Sila Alangotok to get the message out about the effect climate change is having in Canada-s far North.

"We-re definitely looking into the next year, and strategizing how we-re going to continue making sure the video has a lot of visibility," Castleden said. The IISD is trying to make arrangements to have the full-length video broadcast. So far, only the 14-minute version has been aired (on APTN Dec. 14).

It is on-line at http://www.iisd.org.casl/projects/inuitobs.htm.