Knowledge and Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation in the Infrastructure Sector in Nunavut, Canada

Abstract: The Arctic is at the forefront of climate change and is considered to be the most at risk, warming at twice the rate of the global annual average. The environment and its inhabitants are and will be subjected to deep transformational shifts, with changes in temperature and climate having potentially worldwide repercussions. Global attention for the Arctic region has further risen by the increasing natural resource opportunities and changes in its accessibility, emergence of new transportation routes and geopolitical shifts. In the context of the Canadian Arctic, debates over appropriate policy action on climate change adaptation is a prominent topic for policy at all levels of government and across all sectors. While mitigation is certainly needed both in Canada and internationally, in the context of the territory of Nunavut, preparedness and adaptation are perhaps the most important and immediate need. Assessing climate change adaptation considerations in the infrastructure sector in particular is crucial as both society and individuals are dependent on it. Infrastructure in Nunavut is built to withstand harsh seasonal conditions and is reliant on shipments of resources and material for maintenance and construction. Most of this infrastructure is susceptible to climate variability and thus vulnerable to climate change. The purpose of this thesis project is to identify and understand in what ways existing knowledge plays a role in the infrastructure sector and how this is implemented and operationalized for infrastructure development and policy in the context of Nunavut. The research hopes to contribute to the knowledge of climate change adaptation in infrastructure in vulnerable environments and foster greater dialogue on the topic, as well as encourage proactive action for climate-sensitive infrastructure development in Nunavut.