In a statement read Tuesday, Dec. 1st, in the House of Assembly, Charlene Johnson, minister of Environment and Conservation, pledged more than $98,000 in funding towards climate change research in Labrador. Researchers from the Faculty of Arts will be spearheading this initiative.

Thanks to the funding, geography professor Dr. Trevor Bell and Dr. Joanna Wolf, a postdoctoral fellow at the Labrador Institute (her fellowship is supported by the Faculty of Arts), will be able to follow up on key priorities identified at the Labrador Climate Change and Renewable Research conference held in North West River last year.

Among these items were improving collaboration among communities, researchers and governments in Labrador, engaging communities on climate change issues in Labrador and compiling existing knowledge on climate change studies in Labrador.

In her statement, the minister said, “In the context of adaptation decision making, values and culture area of the utmost importance as they determine the policies and plans that are deemed effective and equitable. The project also aims to build capacity at the local level for adaptation and adaptation planning.” 

Minister Johnson also commented on the seriousness of the issue of climate change adaptation generally for Newfoundland and Labrador and the specific challenges for northern communities where planning must take cultural identity and values into consideration.

In response to the minister’s announcement, Dr. Trevor Bell said he is pleased that the government is addressing the specific challenges for northern communities in adapting to, and strengthening their resilience to, climate change.

“Our project examines the role that values and cultural identity may play in shaping responses to climate change in Labrador communities, bearing in mind other social stressors and resource pressures. Cultural identities and values determine what adaptive response options are perceived as legitimate, effective and useful in a community.There is no single adaptation strategy that will necessarily work in every community, especially when you consider the cultural diversity among communities in Labrador.”

Dr. Wolf is looking forward to working with Labrador communities on this important issue.

“We plan to engage communities in research that will allow them to identify those cultural values that are important to the community. The communities may draw on these values more explicitly in decision making on adaptation locally and regionally,” said Dr. Wolf.