Coastal communities in rural Alaska are reliant on federal programs for health, housing, and infrastructure. A challenge in addressing the projected impacts of climate change is that federal programs are designed to address a disaster after the fact, not as it is occurring or before it occurs.

Equity in addressing climate change is a pressing challenge in Alaska, nationally, and across Arctic North America. While some communities can leverage a wealthy tax base to fund significant infrastructure projects to address the impacts of climate change, others, often tribally managed communities, which are remote and economically disadvantaged, lack tax bases to fund even the most basic of services. In rural Alaska, Alaska Native Tribal governments have many pressing challenges, and the ability to navigate federal programs to access funding can be a barrier to addressing community resilience.

This workshop will provide the opportunity to bring together communities from across rural coastal Alaska and Arctic Canada to participate in a dialogue focused on co-producing knowledge, to discuss and describe how to slowly migrate away from the coast, the barriers and successes of this effort, and a path forward for communities to build better community well-being.

REGISTER FOR WORKSHOP

Alaska Sea Grant accommodation and code of conduct

Alaska Sea Grant is committed to providing safe and welcoming environments for all who participate in activities, meetings, or events. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made at least five business days in advance to sea.grant@alaska.edu. Participants and organizers of Alaska Sea Grant-sponsored activities are supported by the Alaska Sea Grant event code of conduct.