Human civilization and modern-day society were established and continue to be underpinned by economic trade, and the global economy and trade are intrinsically linked. Today, over 80% of all goods are moved at some point by ship, and without supply-chain infrastructure (e.g. roads, rail) society as we know it could not exist. International, domestic, and inter-continental trade is an integral part of the North American economy. Projected climate change is expected to impact much of the trade system over the next century. Climate change can be a disruptor of trade, both rapidly in the form of extreme events, and slowly in the form of gradual changes in temperature and precipitation. However, it can also be a driver of shifting trade patterns, by increasing the volume of traded goods and creating new transport corridors. Of particular interest is the reduction of arctic sea ice opening up the Northwest Passage for at least some portion of the year, providing more efficient east-west transport routes, and reducing costs per ship.

Despite the apparent importance of global trade, as well as the impending impacts of climate change, little attention has been paid linking the two at the international policy level. This project aims to identify gaps in the current knowledge surrounding climate change and trade, and provide suggestions on how to make strong policy recommendations for a sustainable future, both in terms of the economy and the environment.

Photo Credit: Annika Ogilvie

This proposed research studies the problem of where the legal system in Nunavut falls short in providing solutions for Inuit women in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut seeking legal remedies in the context of the housing crisis and family violence issues that currently exist in the territory. The research will  examine how the housing shortage and housing laws in the region affect access to justice for Inuit women dealing with domestic violence.

Photo Credit: Emma Stewart

For over 50 years, Churchill, Manitoba has provided visitors with the unique experience of viewing polar bears in their natural environment. Over the same period, a rise in Arctic temperatures and changing sea ice conditions has negatively impacted polar bears in Western Hudson Bay. In 2008, the term “last chance tourism” was used which signified that the demand to travel to the North was linked to a desire to see these animals ‘before they are gone’. The paradox is that tourists require energy intensive modes of transportation to reach the Arctic, thereby generating greenhouse gas emissions, which are in turn the primary causes of anthropogenic climate change. This project compared the polar bear viewing industry’s total greenhouse gas contribution and polar bear viewing tourist’s knowledge about climate with results from the 2008 study and reports any changes over the last ten years. During the 2018 polar bear viewing season, greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 23,017 t/CO2 , a slight increase from 2008, primarily due to the dependence on air travel. The results also indicated that although 92% of tourists believe climate change is happening, 73% connect this to air travel, a similar finding identified 10 years ago. Findings from this research establish that consumption patterns have not changed despite a growing awareness of climate change and its impacts.

Photo Credit: Jackie Dawson

Climate change and global commodity demands have increased access to and feasibility of extracting natural resources in Arctic regions. As a result, Nunavut is now poised to compete on the global market for oil, gas, minerals, and precious metals. Using the predominantly Inuit community of Pond Inlet, Nunavut, as a case study, this thesis uses an article format to introduce the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development’s ‘nation building’ conceptual framework, as well as a post-colonial theory to explore resource development in the Canadian Arctic context. The nation building framework is a well-established and validated approach to understanding economic development in Indigenous society that has been refined and used in hundreds of case studies over the past three decades. Based on interviews with residents and regional decision-makers, it was found that the community of Pond Inlet currently lacks the self-determination and effective institutions needed to implement local strategies for prosperity due to a number of complex factors, including educational and capacity deficiencies; infrastructure needs; as well as a centralized decision-making structure that poorly matches local culture and serves to alienate residents. As a result, the anticipated resource boom in Arctic Canada is in danger of indirectly repeating the colonial legacy of assimilation, this time justified by contemporary economic reasons, instead of providing the region with an inclusive, balanced economic development approach in line with local ideas for development and cultural continuity.

Photo Credit: Jackie Dawson