Research team to address climate change challenges faced by Arctic indigenous communities  

Dr Iestyn Woolway from the University’s School of Ocean Sciences joins an international team, led by experts from Canada, Norway, and the UK, for the project, which is being supported by the Government of Canada. 

As the Arctic warms at four times the global rate, the shrinking ice and snow cover threaten transportation, food security, and health for Inuit and Sámi populations.  

The project prioritises community-driven solutions by blending indigenous knowledge with cutting-edge science to mitigate risks and promote resilience. 

Its key goals include forecasting cryosphere hazards by developing real-time tools, such as an ice and snow safety dashboard, to enhance mobility safety and support decision-making in Arctic communities. 

It will promote food security and health by investigating the impacts of changing ice and snow conditions on traditional food systems and community well-being, fostering knowledge exchange across generations. 

The indigenous Inuit and Sámi communities will be empowered through the co-production of knowledge and adaptation strategies with them, ensuring their voices shape the research and outcomes. 

As part of this initiative Bangor University is leading the development of advanced lake models to predict safe winter transportation routes over frozen lakes and rivers, focusing on ice thickness under climate change. These models will provide critical insights for local decision-makers navigating increasingly unpredictable ice conditions. 

Satellite data, field observations, and Indigenous expertise will be integrated in order to model and predict ice and snow conditions. Legal, cultural, and ecological insights will be combined to enhance Arctic governance and environmental resilience. 

To ensure findings resonate with local and global audiences the initiative will be creating engaging, accessible outputs, such as children’s books, murals, and community workshops. 

The expected outcomes of this initiative are safer travel routes for Arctic communities, new strategies to sustain traditional practices and improve food security and strengthened collaboration between scientists and Indigenous groups to address climate challenges. 

Dr Iestyn Woolway, who is the UK principal investigator (PI) for this project, said, “Bangor University is grateful for the grant from the Government of Canada and would like to thank them for their support. 

“This project demonstrates our collective commitment to tackling the most significant threat to our planet and the future of humanity, which is climate change. 

“We are determined in our drive to find innovative solutions that could have a significant impact on some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. 

“This ambitious project aims to safeguard Arctic communities’ future while advancing global understanding of cryosphere dynamics in a rapidly warming world.”