Climate Change

AWA Speaks at the Climate Change Preparedness Conference in Las Vegas

AWA Speaks at the Climate Change Preparedness Conference in Las Vegas

AWA Executive Director, Nicole Schmitt, and Board Member Angute'karaq Qakvalria, Estelle Thomson spoke at the Climate Change Preparedness Conference in Las Vegas last month.

The three-day event included climate experts, government officials and policymakers, community organizers, youth leaders, environmental professionals, and other stakeholders from around the country.

Action Alert: Strengthen Protections for National Wildlife Refuges

Action Alert: Strengthen Protections for National Wildlife Refuges

Comment by May 6th to secure enhanced protections for wildlife!

Victory in Our Lawsuit to Protect Beaufort Sea Polar Bears!

Victory in Our Lawsuit to Protect Beaufort Sea Polar Bears!

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must correct legal errors with a regulation that allows oil and gas companies to harass Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears on the North Slope of Alaska.

Our 2023 Annual Report!

Our 2023 Annual Report!

Learn more about our work in 2023!

Another publication! Geographic Origins of Shorebirds Using an Alaskan Estuary during Migration

Another publication! Geographic Origins of Shorebirds Using an Alaskan Estuary during Migration

The article examines an isotopic approach to estimate probable breeding, staging and/or non-breeding origins of six shorebird species, some of high conservation concern, using Chickaloon during spring and fall migration of 2009 and 2010

We Published! Impact of Climate Change on Alaska Natives in December 2023 Journal of Environmental Health

We Published! Impact of Climate Change on Alaska Natives in December 2023 Journal of Environmental Health

From the abstract: Alaska, with its unique geographical and ecological characteristics, is experiencing the detrimental effects of climate change at an alarming rate. The Alaska Native (AN) population, deeply connected to the land and its resources, faces disproportionate vulnerability to these impacts. We call attention to climate change impacts on AN food sovereignty, mental and behavioral health, cultural and spiritual practices, resiliency and adaptation, and how local Alaskan organizations are addressing climate change impacts.

This article also highlights the urgent need for environmental public health professionals to engage with AN and Native American communities, address health inequities, and participate in mitigation and adaptation efforts to address the environmental public health threats and consequences of climate change. Increasing awareness of climate- related health impacts on these communities is crucial and immediate actions are needed to support safer, healthier, and more sustainable and climate-resilient communities. Government agencies at all levels should also seek to integrate perspectives from Indigenous Peoples, engage in co-management strategies, and provide equitable funding and support for Indigenous communities. Unity, resilience, and adaptation become attainable goals by joining communities in caring for the environment. This message resonates not only in Alaska but also globally, highlighting the need for collective action in the face of climate change.

AWA Publication: Reimagining large river management

AWA Publication: Reimagining large river management

The article examines how the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework can facilitate informed decision making and a more cohesive and proactive approach to managing ecological trajectories…”

Plants and animals on the move: the borealization of a rapidly warming Alaska

Click here or scroll below to see AWA’s Vice President, Dr. John Morton’s, presentation Plants and animals on the move: the borealization of a rapidly warming Alaska for the 20th Annual Conference of North American Travel Journalists Association on May 17th in Fairbanks, AK.

New Publication! The Dynamics of a Changing Lutz Spruce Hybrid Zone on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

New Publication! The Dynamics of a Changing Lutz Spruce Hybrid Zone on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

The article discusses a study that examined the genetic makeup of Lutz spruce, a natural hybrid between white and Sitka spruce on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Publication: A RADical approach to conservation in Alaska

Publication: A RADical approach to conservation in Alaska

Our board vice president, Dr. John Morton, and our executive director, Nicole Schmitt, have both been recently published! Read more about the RAD Framework and AWA’s outlook on climate adaptation for wildlife in Alaska.