Arctic

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International Polar Year (IPY) 2012 Conference, Montreal April 22-27 2012

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The Arctic team will be doing three Poster presentation at the IPY 2012: 1.  Harper, S.L., V.L. Edge, J. Ford, K. Thomas, S.A. McEwen. April 2012. “Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change: Burden of Self-Reported Acute Gastrointestinal Illness in Canadian Inuit. 2.  Harper, S.L., V.L. Edge, J. Ford, M. Wood, A. Cunsolo Willox, S.A. McEwen. April 2012. “Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change: Climate-Related Health Priorities in Nunatsiavut, Canada”  and, 3.  Harper, S.L., V.L. Edge, J. Ford, S.A. McEwen. April 2012. “Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change: Using Scenario Analysis to Prepare for Climate Change Impacts on Waterborne Disease in Nunatsiavut, Canada.”  For more information on the IPY 2012 go to http://www.ipy2012montreal.ca/

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A record breaking year in the Canadian Arctic

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It's turning out to be record breaking year across the Canadian Arctic with 2010 likely to be the warmest on record. In Iqaluit - one of our case study communities - the ice broke up the earliest it ever has, while in the NWT open water was detected as early as April! The implications of these changes for Inuit livelihoods are now well understood, and McGill research has helped to identify opportunities for adaptation. But what about the health implications? These have been little studied and, as our pilot research for grant development indicates, are a great concern to communities and Inuit organizations. The IHACC research program, if funded, builds upon these concerns and will work with communities to identify pathways through which climate change might affect Inuit health and also fund the development of pilot interventions.