Exploring Elders’ and Seniors’ Perceptions of How Climate Change is Impacting Health and Well-being in Rigolet, Nunatsiavut / ᕿᒥᕐᕈᓂᖅ  ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐃᑦ  ᐃᓱᒪᔾᔪᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ  ᕆᒍᓚᑦ,  ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕗᒻᒥ  ᓯᓚᐅᑉ   ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ  ᐊᑦᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ  ᐃᓗᓯᕐᒥᒃ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᖃᓄᐃᓐᖏᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ

Climate changes are rapidly intensifying and can lead to adverse global health impacts. Indigenous populations are especially vulnerable to climate change because of their dependence on the environment for cultural activities and subsistence. The voices of Inuit Elders and seniors encompass deep wisdom and history; as such, the goal of this research was to examine the perceived impacts of climate and environmental changes on physical, mental, and emotional health, as observed by Elders and seniors in the Inuit community of Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada. A mixed-methods approach was used to gather data capturing these local observations, as well as perceived impacts on community health. A community survey was administered in November 2009 (n = 75) and in-depth interviews were conducted with Elders and seniors from January to October 2010 (n = 22). Survey results indicated that Elders and seniors observing changes in weather patterns, water systems, and wildlife were more likely to perceive climate change impacts on health (p < 0.05). Emergent themes from the interviews included: recurring observations of climate change, including changes in temperature, ice, snow, and seasonal timing; impacts on physical health, including reduced physical activity levels and poorer nutrition; impacts on mental and emotional health, including feelings of isolation and depression; and an identified need for community-wide adaptation. This research emphasized the importance of understanding Elder-specific perspectives of climate-health relationships in the Canadian North to develop sustainable, culturally relevant adaptation strategies to mitigate health impacts related to climate change. ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᓱᒃᑲᓕᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᕗᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᓚᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑦᑐᐃᔪᓐᓇᖅᑯᖅ ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑎᒍᑦ. ᓯᓚᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑑᔪᑦ ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᓐᓇᖅᑯᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ, ᐱᖅᑯᓯᖏᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᐸᓐᓂᖏᑎᒍᑦ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᐃᓪᓗ ᓂᐱᖏᑦ ᓯᓚᑐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑐᓐᖓᕕᖃᖅᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔭᖃᖅᑯᑦ; ᓲᕐᓗ ᐆᒧᖓ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᕌᒐᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑐᐃᔾᔪᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᕙᑎᐅᑉ ᑕᐅᑦᑐᖓ, ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑎᒍᑦ, ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᑕᑯᓐᓇᖅᑕᖃᖅᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓂ ᕆᒍᓚᑦ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕗᒻᒥ, ᓛᐸᑐᐊᒥ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ. ᑲᑎᑕᐹᓂᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖅᑯᑏᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᒻᒥ ᑕᑯᓐᓇᒐᐅᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᑯᓐᓇᑕᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᒻᒥ ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᑦ. ᓄᓇᓕᒻᒥ ᐊᐱᖅᓲᑎ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 2009−ᒥ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᔪᕗᖅ (n = 75) ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓗᑐᔪᓂᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᓲᑎᖃᔪᕗᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᓄᓪᓗ ᔮᓐᓄᐊᓕᒻᒥᑦ ᐅᑐᐱᕆᒧᑦ 2010−ᒥ (n = 22). ᐊᐱᖅᓲᑎᒧᑦ ᑭᒡᒍᓯᐅᔪᔪᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᔪᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᖓᑕ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᑦ, ᐃᒪᐅᓪᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐆᒪᔪᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᑦᑐᐃᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓗᓯᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ (p < 0.05). ᓲᔪᕐᓇᑐᓪᓗ ᐊᓚᒃᑲᔪᔪᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᓲᑕᐅᔪᔪᓂᑦ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᒪᑯᓂᖓ: ᓲᔪᕆᔭᐅᕙᑦᑐᑦ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ; ᓂᓪᓚᓱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐆᖅᑰᓇᕐᓂᒧᓪᓗ; ᓂᓚᐅᑉ, ᐊᐳᑎᐅᑉ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᐱᕐᖔᑉ, ᐅᑭᐅᑉ ᐊᓰᓐᓇᓕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ; ᐊᑦᑐᐃᔾᔪᑕᐅᔪᓪᓗᑎ ᑎᒥᒧᑦ ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ; ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒨᖓᔪᑦ, ᐃᓚᓕᐅᑦᑐᒋᑦ ᐃᑉᐱᓐᓂᐊᔾᔪᑎᑦ ᐃᓄᑑᓕᐅᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᒫᓱᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ; ᑭᓐᖒᒪᑦᑎᓂᖅᓄᓇᓕᒻᒥ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᕈᑎᓂᒃ. ᐅᓇ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑯᖅ ᐱᓪᓗᕆᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔾᔪᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑦᑐᐊᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂ ᑐᕌᒐᖃᕐᓂᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᔅᓴᓂᒃ, ᐱᖅᑯᓯᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑲᕐᕆᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᐸᓗᖓᐃᔭᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᑭᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑉᐱᓐᓂᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᓯᓚ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

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Response of Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Ecosystem Services to Climate Change in China: A Review

Ecologies ◽

10.3390/ecologies2040018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 313-331

Author(s):

Haijiang Yang ◽

Xiaohua Gou ◽

Dingcai Yin

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Resource Management ◽

Natural Resource Management ◽

Natural Resource ◽

Species Interactions ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Well Being ◽

The Impact

Climate change is having a significant impact on the global ecosystem and is likely to become increasingly important as this phenomenon intensifies. Numerous studies in climate change impacts on biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem services in China have been published in recent decades. However, a comprehensive review of the topic is needed to provide an improved understanding of the history and driving mechanisms of environmental changes within the region. Here we review the evidence for changes in climate and the peer-reviewed literature that assesses climate change impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem, and ecosystem services at a China scale. Our main conclusions are as follows. (1) Most of the evidence shows that climate change (the increasing extreme events) is affecting the change of productivity, species interactions, and biological invasions, especially in the agro-pastoral transition zone and fragile ecological area in Northern China. (2) The individuals and populations respond to climate change through changes in behavior, functions, and geographic scope. (3) The impact of climate change on most types of services (provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural) in China is mainly negative and brings threats and challenges to human well-being and natural resource management, therefore, requiring costly societal adjustments. In general, although great progress has been made, the management strategies still need to be further improved. Integrating climate change into ecosystem services assessment and natural resource management is still a major challenge. Moving forward, it is necessary to evaluate and research the effectiveness of typical demonstration cases, which will contribute to better scientific management of natural resources in China and the world.

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Local Perceptions of Climate Change Impacts in St. Kitts (Caribbean Sea) and Malé, Maldives (Indian Ocean)

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos9120459 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 459 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Charlotte Stancioff ◽

Robert Stojanov ◽

Ilan Kelman ◽

Daniel Němec ◽

Jaromir Landa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Indian Ocean ◽

Case Studies ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Caribbean Sea ◽

Small Island ◽

Social Changes ◽

Climate Change Research ◽

Perceived Impacts

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are now experiencing the local consequences of a changing climate, environment, and society. Nonetheless, climate change research frequently remains at regional or national levels. Without locally grounded data, islanders’ perceived impacts of the changes might not be considered, thereby causing difficulties when policy and practice responses are implemented without accounting for local understandings. To contribute to addressing this gap, this study examines perceptions of climate change and associated environmental and social changes in two SIDS case studies: St. Kitts in the Caribbean Sea and Malé Atoll, Maldives in the Indian Ocean. Through these two case studies, we assess perceptions of changing social and natural environments through a closed-question, face-to-face survey. Our results suggest that in both island case studies, communities perceive environmental changes to be happening that demand negotiation with the social changes of daily life. Results also suggest that perceived climate change impacts are only part of the equation, as social and economic impacts reveal two case studies of changing island societies. While the geographic context in each case study differs, this study reveals the perceived impacts of climate change and social changes at a local level, providing valuable insights and angles for formulating policies and actions to deal with the myriad of social and environmental changes affecting SIDS.

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The Health Impacts of Climate Change: Getting Started on a New Theme

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x00021269 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 23 (S2) ◽

pp. s60-s64 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Kristie L. Ebi ◽

Madeleen Helmer ◽

Jari Vainio

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Human Health ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Health Sector ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Vector Borne Diseases ◽

Prediction And Prevention ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

AbstractClimate change is widely acknowledged as a key global challenge for the 21st century, and is projected to significantly affect population health and human well-being. All of the climate change-related changes in weather patterns will affect human health, from boosting mental well-being to mortality from largescale disasters. Human health can be affected both directly and indirectly.For various reasons, the health sector has been slow in responding to the projected health impacts of climate change. To effectively prepare for and cope with climate change impacts, public health must move from a focus on surveillance and response to a greater emphasis on prediction and prevention.The targeted agenda program dialogue identified three priorities for climate change related health actions: heat waves, vector-borne diseases; and malnutrition.

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Planetary Health, Climate Change, and Lifestyle Medicine: Threats and Opportunities

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine ◽

10.1177/15598276211008127 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155982762110081

Author(s):

Neha Pathak ◽

Amanda McKinney

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Human Health ◽

Core Competencies ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Potential Health ◽

Lifestyle Medicine ◽

The Face ◽

Mitigate Climate Change

Global environmental degradation and climate change threaten the foundation of human health and well-being. In a confluence of crises, the accelerating pace of climate change and other environmental disruptions pose an additional, preventable danger to a global population that is both aging and carrying a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Climate change and environmental disruption function as “threat multipliers,” especially for those with NCDs, worsening the potential health impacts on those with suboptimal health. At the same time, these environmental factors threaten the basic pillars of health and prevention, increasing the risk of developing chronic disease. In the face of these threats, the core competencies of lifestyle medicine (LM) present crucial opportunities to mitigate climate change and human health impacts while also allowing individuals and communities to build resilience. LM health professionals are uniquely positioned to coach patients toward climate-healthy behavior changes that heal both people and the planet.

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A Comparative Analysis of Climate-Risk and Extreme Event-Related Impacts on Well-Being and Health: Policy Implications

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15020331 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 331 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Walter Leal Filho ◽

Abul Al-Amin ◽

Gustavo Nagy ◽

Ulisses Azeiteiro ◽

Laura Wiesböck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Extreme Events ◽

Extreme Event ◽

Well Being ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Climate Risks ◽

Wide Range ◽

Mental Problems

There are various climate risks that are caused or influenced by climate change. They are known to have a wide range of physical, economic, environmental and social impacts. Apart from damages to the physical environment, many climate risks (climate variability, extreme events and climate-related hazards) are associated with a variety of impacts on human well-being, health, and life-supporting systems. These vary from boosting the proliferation of vectors of diseases (e.g., mosquitos), to mental problems triggered by damage to properties and infrastructure. There is a great variety of literature about the strong links between climate change and health, while there is relatively less literature that specifically examines the health impacts of climate risks and extreme events. This paper is an attempt to address this knowledge gap, by compiling eight examples from a set of industrialised and developing countries, where such interactions are described. The policy implications of these phenomena and the lessons learned from the examples provided are summarised. Some suggestions as to how to avert the potential and real health impacts of climate risks are made, hence assisting efforts to adapt to a problem whose impacts affect millions of people around the world. All the examples studied show some degree of vulnerability to climate risks regardless of their socioeconomic status and need to increase resilience against extreme events.

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5. Climate change impacts

Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction ◽

10.1093/actrade/9780198719045.003.0005 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 68-97

Author(s):

Mark Maslin

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Climate Change ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Storm Surges ◽

Well Being ◽

Coastal Cities ◽

Global Biodiversity ◽

Dangerous Climate Change ◽

Water And Food Security

What is dangerous climate change? What is our coping range? ‘Climate change impacts’ assesses the potential effects of climate change on the natural environment as well as on human societies and our economies. Climate change impacts will increase significantly as global temperature rises. Climate change will affect the return period and severity of floods, droughts, heat waves, and storms. Coastal cities and towns will be especially vulnerable as sea-level rise will worsen the effects of floods and storm surges. Water and food security and public health will become the most important problems facing all countries. Climate change also threatens global biodiversity and the well being of billions of people.

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The Cognitive Emotional, and Relational Characteristics of Master Therapists

Master Therapists ◽

10.1093/med:psych/9780190496586.003.0003 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 31-52

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Cognitive Complexity ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Strong Relationship ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Relationship Skills ◽

C Value ◽

Master Therapists ◽

Exclusive Focus

Cognitive, emotional, and relational characteristics among 10 peer-nominated master therapists were identified through qualitative research methods. Results suggest that master therapists (a) are voracious learners; (b) draw heavily on accumulated experiences; (c) value cognitive complexity and ambiguity; (d) are emotionally receptive; (e) are mentally healthy and mature and attend to their own emotional well-being; (f) are aware of how their emotional health impacts their work; (g) possess strong relationship skills; (h) believe in the working alliance; and (i) are experts at using their exceptional relational skills in therapy. These findings suggest that researchers studying therapist expertise may want to explore emotional and relational characteristics in addition to an almost exclusive focus on the therapist's cognitive attributes.

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Indigenous Women, Climate Change Impacts, and Collective Action

Hypatia ◽

10.1111/hypa.12089 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 599-616 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Kyle Powys Whyte

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Indigenous Peoples ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Indigenous Women ◽

Leadership Positions ◽

Important Species ◽

And Shifts ◽

Adaptation And Mitigation

Indigenous peoples must adapt to current and coming climate‐induced environmental changes like sea‐level rise, glacier retreat, and shifts in the ranges of important species. For some indigenous peoples, such changes can disrupt the continuance of the systems of responsibilities that their communities rely on self‐consciously for living lives closely connected to the earth. Within this domain of indigeneity, some indigenous women take seriously the responsibilities that they may perceive they have as members of their communities. For the indigenous women who have such outlooks, responsibilities that they assume in their communities expose them to harms stemming from climate change impacts and other environmental changes. Yet at the same time, their commitment to these responsibilities motivates them to take on leadership positions in efforts at climate change adaptation and mitigation. I show why, at least for some indigenous women, this is an important way of framing the climate change impacts that affect them. I then argue that there is an important implication in this conversation for how we understand the political responsibilities of nonindigenous parties for supporting distinctly indigenous efforts at climate change adaptation and mitigation.

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The natural and social history of the indigenous lands and protected areas corridor of the Xingu River basin

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2012.0164 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 368 (1619) ◽

pp. 20120164 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Stephan Schwartzman ◽

André Villas Boas ◽

Katia Yukari Ono ◽

Marisa Gesteira Fonseca ◽

Juan Doblas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Social History ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Indigenous Populations ◽

Indigenous Groups ◽

Indigenous Lands ◽

Increasing Demand ◽

Road Paving

The 280 000 km² Xingu indigenous lands and protected areas (ILPAs) corridor, inhabited by 24 indigenous peoples and about 215 riverine (ribeirinho) families, lies across active agriculture frontiers in some of the historically highest-deforestation regions of the Amazon. Much of the Xingu is anthropogenic landscape, densely inhabited and managed by indigenous populations over the past millennium. Indigenous and riverine peoples' historical management and use of these landscapes have enabled their long-term occupation and ultimately their protection. The corridor vividly demonstrates how ILPAs halt deforestation and why they may account for a large part of the 70 per cent reduction in Amazon deforestation below the 1996–2005 average since 2005. However, ongoing and planned dams, road paving, logging and mining, together with increasing demand for agricultural commodities, continued degradation of upper headwaters outside ILPA borders and climate change impacts may render these gains ephemeral. Local peoples will need new, bottom-up, forms of governance to gain recognition for the high social and biological diversity of these territories in development policy and planning, and finance commensurate with the value of their ecosystem services. Indigenous groups' reports of changing fire and rainfall regimes may themselves evidence climate change impacts, a new and serious threat.

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