Developing Indicators of Cultural, Social, and Economic Well-Being to assess Equity in Building Resilience at the Coastal Margins of Alaska

As the Alaska Sea Grant Coastal Community Resilience Specialist Davin Holen provides expertise, research, and extension services that enhance the culture and well-being of coastal communities across Alaska.  Davin facilitates workshops and conducts research that informs coastal resilience and adaptation to local stressors from climatic and ocean changes.  Sean Kelly is an Alaska Sea Grant fellow, a post-graduate fellowship, focusing on climate migration and adaptation.  For the WAGE Project Davin and Sean will focus on WAGE Axis 3: Towards a more equitable distribution, specifically the focus of promoting Indigenous and citizens’ practices in the struggle to overcome inequalities. In Alaska, there are 229 Tribes and considerable funding is currently being provided by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs and other agencies for Tribes to draft climate resilience and adaptation plans.  However, it’s not well understood how equitable these plans are being implemented across the different regions of the State of Alaska.  Research questions include 1) What does climate adaptation planning in Alaska tell us about (in)equity in access to adaptation resources? 2) Do climate adaptation plans reflect socio-cultural indicators of well-being? 3) To what extent are action steps in climate adaptation plans being implemented?

Alaska

Objectives

B. Explain

Axes

3. Towards a more equitable distribution

Work Packages

3.3. Indigenous and citizens’ practices in the struggle to overcome inequalities