English summary of the report Current and Projected Impacts of Climate Change on Saami Culture
Abstract
The report presents the results of the Saami Climate Council’s project:
Establishing the Saami Climate Council’s knowledge base – PRESAAMI2.
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 material. The report examines
the average temperature and precipitation of 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 of review because the holders of Saami traditional
knowledge have reported changes in wind intensity, 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 Saami living
environment. Holders of traditional knowledge have 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 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 cooperation 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.
The project has identified further research needs and it proposes the need
to anticipate the future of Saami culture and population. The key result of
the project is a draft of 59 indicators that can be used to monitor the effects
of climate change on the Saami culture and the Saami homeland. The
finalisation of the indicators requires a follow-up project and collaboration
between the research institutes producing the data. Some of the indicators
can be implemented with existing data sources and their analysis. Some
require data collection and resourcing. The Saami Climate Council should
create a map-based observation system in which Saami traditional
knowledge holders, authorities and researchers could report observations
related to indicators and climate change.
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