ArCS Arctic Challenge for Sustainability Project

Theme 7
People and Community in the Arctic: Possibility of Sustainable Development

PI : Shinichiro Tabata (Hokkaido University)Implementation Structure

Study Sites : Arctic, Sakha Republic

Background of the Research

Under the influence of climate change and global warming, possibilities have emerged for advances in economic activity in the Arctic region, including the Northern Sea Route and resource development. Japanese companies and organizations are also involved in resource development in the Yamal Peninsula and Greenland, and some firms, trading companies and local governments have expressed great interest in the Northern Sea Route. These activities in the Arctic, however, have a significant impact on the natural environment of the Arctic Circle and the living environment of local residents, including indigenous people. In 2013, Japan became one of the observer countries of the Arctic Council. The international community, including Japan, has been asked to seriously consider how we should foster the development of the Arctic.

Overview of the Research

In this study, we will consider how we should promote the development of the Arctic from the following three perspectives. First, we analyze how the economic development of the Arctic (in particular, resource development and the Northern Sea Route) is currently proceeding and consider how we should proceed in the future. We present a development scenario, and calculate the costs and benefits in a broad sense. Second, when we proceed with such economic development, we consider what is necessary in order to preserve the environment in the whole Arctic and the living environment of local communities and indigenous peoples. This means that we consider what the interaction should be between the environment and human beings. It should be noted that the Arctic environment has a global impact. Third, when advancing economic development, in order to think about what rules should be adopted by international organizations as well as national and local governments, we form an accurate understanding of the policy discussions at these organizations. We consider what kind of contribution can be made for these stakeholders, cooperating with natural science programs of ArCS.

Structure of Arctic People and Community theme

Cooperative Institutions / International Projects

North-Eastern Federal University (Russia); Northern (Arctic) Federal University (Russia); Saint-Petersburg State University (Russia); Yakutsk Science Center, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia); Central Marine Research & Design Institute (Saint-Petersburg, Russia); University of Helsinki (Finland); Center for East Asian Studies and Pan-European Institute, University of Turku (Finland); Norwegian Barents Secretariat (Norway)
Belmont Fund project - C budget of ecosystems and cities and villages on permafrost in eastern Russian Arctic (COPERA)

Implementation Structure

Members

Collaborators

Study Sites (Map)

• ❶Arctic
• ❷Sakha Republic

ArCS Blog

• Report of the Summary Symposium of Theme 7, “People and Community in the Arctic” (March 13, 2020)
• The Special Mobile Exhibition "Thawing Earth: Global Warming in Central Yakutia, Siberia" (January 24, 2020)
• Exhibition and book launch event at Yakutsk and Khaiakhsit village in Churapcha district (December 09, 2019)
• ArCS Theme 7: Research Outcome Presentation at 12th Polar Law Symposium in Hobart (October 16, 2019)
• Second round-table conference on Arctic between government officials and researchers (June 19, 2019)
• ArCS Theme 1&7 Joint Symposium, Changing Arctic and human society (June 11, 2019)
• Report：International workshop Tohoku Forum for Creativity, Thematic Programs Geologic Stabilization and Human Adaptations in Northeast Asia Workshop 4：Northern Modes of Foraging and Domestication as an Interaction among Humans, Animals, and Geography (June 11, 2019)

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