Current and Projected Impacts of Climate Change on Saami Culture

The report presents the results of the Saami Climate Council’s project: PRESAAMI2- Establishing the Saami Climate Council’s knowledge base. The purpose of the project has been to produce information on the current and anticipated effects of climate change on the climate of the Saami homeland, to the Saami culture and the traditional Saami livelihoods. The material has included research literature, a workshop for holders of Saami traditional knowledge, and meteorological data. The report examines the average temperature and precipitation in the Saami homeland in different climatological normal periods and seasons, as well as average wind speed and wind direction in different seasons. Windiness was chosen as one of the subjects to study because the holders of Saami traditional knowledge have reported changes in wind velocity, and direction. The ongoing climate change is already visible in the Saami homeland: temperatures have risen by 2-3 degrees in the last 60 years and precipitation has increased. The change is the greatest in winter. On period 1961-2023, the average wind speed has increased in the spring throughout the region, and the average wind direction has opposite changes in different seasons. However, a large year-to-year variability influences wind condition trends and therefore changes in winds cannot be directly linked to be a result of climate change. In the future, temperature and precipitation are expected to continue to increase, which will have a major impact on the livelihoods of the Saami. The research findings support the observations of Saami traditional knowledge holders on the effects of climate change on the living environment of the Saami. Holders of traditional knowledge have especially observations on causal relationships, of which there is no researched information. Understanding the cultural impacts of climate change on Saami culture requires co-production of knowledge with Saami traditional knowledge holders. Climate change affects the health and well-being of Saami traditional knowledge holders, to the possibilities to practice traditional livelihoods, the economy, the belief in the future and the transfer of Saami traditional knowledge. Climate change brings new threats to the Saami, but holders of Saami traditional knowledge have the ability, desire and belief that the Saami can adapt to climate change in a culturally sustainable way with the support of society and collaboration between the scientific community and the Saami. Based on the data collected by the project, Finland lacks systematic knowledge and foresight on the Saami health, Saami culture and traditional livelihoods, and adaptation to climate change. No provisions have been made for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the legislation governing the traditional livelihoods of the Saami.