JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Recent storms have intensified the challenges faced by low-lying Indigenous villages on Alaska’s western coast, drawing attention to their increasing vulnerability due to climate change. The harsh weather conditions have left communities like Kipnuk and Kwigillingok grappling with the aftermath of flooding, erosive shoreline damage, and displacement concerns as winter approaches.
Before this year’s storms, Kwigillingok was already in the process of planning a relocation, a process complicated by a lack of centralized coordination and funding over years. The recent hurricanes, including the remnants of Typhoon Halong, have raised further alarms about the reliability of existing infrastructure and the residents’ immediate needs.
“Where we can support resilience to buy time, we’re going to do that,” said Bryan Fisher, the emergency management director for the state.
Alaska is experiencing climate change at a rate beyond the global average, as documented by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The report disclosed that 144 Native communities are currently facing significant threats from environmental dangers like thawing permafrost, flooding, and erosion, particularly affecting coastal populations.
Recent scientific assessments reveal that diminishing Arctic sea ice results in higher storm-related damages to coastlines. With a combination of severe storms, such as the recent storm surge that affected Quinhagak, many villages are experiencing unprecedented coastal deterioration.
Despite the urgency, options for coping with these threats remain limited and costly, with estimates indicating upward of $4.3 billion is required over the next fifty years to protect local infrastructure. Barriers surrounding funding and resource allocation hinder effective responses, compounded by federal policy changes that have removed or reduced access to critical support. With examples like the two-year effort for Newtok's relocation still fresh, the pathway for Kipnuk and Kwigillingok seems uncertain.
While there exist federal programs like the Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation Program, which allocated funding for specific relocation efforts, those addressing the needs of Indigenous communities often find themselves stalled amid bureaucratic red tape and inconsistent governmental support. The prospect of sustained federal support remains tenuous, particularly as previous administrations have restricted funding channels.
Sheryl Musgrove, from the Alaska Climate Justice Program, expressed concerns that the future may bring change if increased attention focuses on the struggles of these communities. However, the lack of a coordinated federal agency specifically for relocation presents significant challenges, leaving villages to navigate through multiple governmental systems with little coordination for immediate aid or support.
Before this year’s storms, Kwigillingok was already in the process of planning a relocation, a process complicated by a lack of centralized coordination and funding over years. The recent hurricanes, including the remnants of Typhoon Halong, have raised further alarms about the reliability of existing infrastructure and the residents’ immediate needs.
“Where we can support resilience to buy time, we’re going to do that,” said Bryan Fisher, the emergency management director for the state.
Alaska is experiencing climate change at a rate beyond the global average, as documented by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The report disclosed that 144 Native communities are currently facing significant threats from environmental dangers like thawing permafrost, flooding, and erosion, particularly affecting coastal populations.
Recent scientific assessments reveal that diminishing Arctic sea ice results in higher storm-related damages to coastlines. With a combination of severe storms, such as the recent storm surge that affected Quinhagak, many villages are experiencing unprecedented coastal deterioration.
Despite the urgency, options for coping with these threats remain limited and costly, with estimates indicating upward of $4.3 billion is required over the next fifty years to protect local infrastructure. Barriers surrounding funding and resource allocation hinder effective responses, compounded by federal policy changes that have removed or reduced access to critical support. With examples like the two-year effort for Newtok's relocation still fresh, the pathway for Kipnuk and Kwigillingok seems uncertain.
While there exist federal programs like the Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation Program, which allocated funding for specific relocation efforts, those addressing the needs of Indigenous communities often find themselves stalled amid bureaucratic red tape and inconsistent governmental support. The prospect of sustained federal support remains tenuous, particularly as previous administrations have restricted funding channels.
Sheryl Musgrove, from the Alaska Climate Justice Program, expressed concerns that the future may bring change if increased attention focuses on the struggles of these communities. However, the lack of a coordinated federal agency specifically for relocation presents significant challenges, leaving villages to navigate through multiple governmental systems with little coordination for immediate aid or support.
