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ARCTIC COMMUNITIES
The Arctic has been the home and traditional territory of Indigenous Peoples for thousands of years and continues to be populated by vibrant communities.
For people living in the Arctic, climate change is not a distant threat—it is the driving force in many of the environmental, economic and societal transitions affecting the region today. These impacts are especially hard on Indigenous communities.
© Staffan Widstrand / WWF
Indigenous Peoples
There are more than 40 Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic. They represent about 10 per cent of the Arctic’s total population of four million.
Of the Arctic coastal peoples, the Inuit are the most widespread, occupying coastlines from Arctic Russia to Canada to Greenland, a span of thousands of kilometres. In some Arctic states and regional political units, Indigenous People are comparatively small minorities. Alaskan Native peoples are estimated to comprise 15 per cent of the state population, while in Greenland, Indigenous People (including persons of mixed origin) make up about 88 per cent of the population.
The Arctic’s Indigenous Peoples once had complete control over the resources in the areas they occupied. That control began to diminish as new arrivals pushed north. In northwestern Europe, that process began many hundreds of years ago, while in parts of Canada, the large-scale arrival of non-Indigenous People is comparatively recent.
Many of the Arctic’s Indigenous Peoples are beginning to regain control over their traditional lands and waters, whether through land claim (modern treaty) processes, or through changes in regional governance that are returning more decision-making powers to them. This process is underpinned internationally by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which most of the Arctic states have endorsed.
How is a changing Arctic threatening communities?
Climate change poses significant threats to Arctic livelihoods and food security. Changes in sea ice, precipitation patterns, and temperatures are disrupting the availability of traditional foods like whales and caribou, impacting Indigenous communities heavily reliant on hunting. Warming climates also shrink the window for safe travel, risking transportation over thawing sea ice.
Moreover, melting permafrost threatens infrastructure stability, affecting over two-thirds of Arctic settlements, while extreme weather events such as flooding and wildfires exacerbate risks, endangering lives, property, and ecosystems.
Solutions
© Staffan Widstrand / WWF
Protect Arctic livelihoods
For thousands of years, Arctic Indigenous peoples have hunted animals for food, clothing and other essential uses. Hunting is still part of the cultural identity of many northern peoples, and for some, still an essential part of their livelihoods. People in northern communities still hunt because the other foods available to them are often less healthy than traditional foods and too expensive.
© Andrew S. Wright / WWF-Canada
Safeguard Arctic ecosystems
Arctic ecosystems are vital for biodiversity and the well-being of Indigenous communities, providing essential services and regulating climate. However, climate change and industrial activities threaten these ecosystems. Prioritizing sustainability and ecosystem-based management, while respecting Indigenous rights, is crucial. Given the unpredictability of Arctic changes, adaptable plans and collaborative efforts are imperative. Arctic governments must protect and conserve 30 per cent of land and sea areas by 2030, focusing efforts on enhancing Arctic ecosystem resilience.
What is WWF Global Arctic Programme doing?
© Youth Together for Arctic Futures
Supports Indigenous-Led Conservation
As part of our commitment to supporting Indigenous-led conservation efforts, we have participated in various events advocating for equitable and ethical engagement of Indigenous Peoples in conservation.
At UNFCCC COP28, we promoted Inuit-led Arctic conservation action, emphasizing the importance of establishing nature based solutions. Additionally, at the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) we advocated for equity and justice in climate action and our presence at the 2023 Arctic Circle Assembly, was marked by our advocacy for the seamless integration of Indigenous-led conservation and the urgent implementation of a pan-Arctic network of protected areas.
© Emina Ida / WWF-Canada
Launch of Arctic Biodiversity Initiative
ArcNet, an Arctic Ocean Network of Priority Areas for Conservation, is a readymade framework that outlines important areas for conservation across the entire Arctic Ocean and nearby seas. It provides a basis for establishing measures to safeguard the Arctic’s marine biodiversity and the people that depend on it for their well-being.
To advance ArcNet’s objectives, WWF launched the Arctic Biodiversity Initiative (ABI). This initiative addresses the challenges of protecting Arctic biodiversity from climate change and increasing industrial development, while supporting effective conservation methods. Each ABI project fosters partnerships, especially with Indigenous Arctic communities, by integrating Indigenous and scientific knowledge that supports biodiversity conservation.
