Lessons from the Arctic - The Need for Environmental Observations

Author: Larry Hinzman, President's Arctic Professor, U of the Arctic, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Video Presentation

Abstract

In the United States, the processes of responding to natural emergencies or managing our natural resources evolved from a long history of awareness and understanding derived from observations and monitoring, combined with assessment through established and accepted analytical methods. From weather forecasts to managing fisheries, our nation has relied on expert knowledge of historical norms and understanding the consequences of deviating from those norms. Management of traffic, water usage, industrial emissions, food additives, and nearly every other aspect of life in today's society is regulated based upon society's concurrence that population health, sustainable resources and a civil society are maintained through environmental measurement and analysis. In light of our nation's dependence upon environmental monitoring to enhance safety, security, and resource allocations, it is contrary to our collective consciousness to eliminate essential sources of information that are critical to enable informed decisions. Environmental observations are essential for awareness and responding to changes, threats, and sustainable use. In order to highlight the importance of, and need for, environmental observations, the Arctic provides a compelling focus through past examples of societal responses driven by federally-supported monitoring while illustrating the vulnerabilities arising from the loss of environmental observations.

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