Environmental+Issues

The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) has consistently worked on climate change issues for numerous years. In these efforts, the National Inuit Climate Change Committee (NICCC) was founded in 2009, consisting of five voting members; one from each of the four Inuit organizations and one from ITK. This department recognizes the ever-increasing influence of climate change on most aspects of life within the Inuit community. Along with these more obvious environmental issues, are the intertwined issues of health, socio-economic, research and communications aspects. The recognized most important areas that connect these climate change issues to the impacts of adaptation for the Inuit people are those of wildlife and harvesting, traditional knowledge, human health, food security, nutrition and contaminants, socio-economic implications, infrastructure, and environmental security. Continually, the NICCC works to develop a national Inuit strategy on climate change to find the means to increase community awareness and even take advantage of the existing environmental programs. These efforts also aim to influence research through the ArcticNet program. []
 * Climate Change**

**ArcticNet** ITK has also been actively involved with ArcticNet since inception. This organization was created to study the impacts of climate change in the Arctic and to share this information in an effort to increase awareness of the issue of climate change. All Canadians, especially the Inuit population, benefit from the development of adaptation strategies and national policies as created through this organization. The Inuit people have an important role in this organization, collectively working to vocalize their needs, priorities, knowledge, and perspectives throughout the development of research work.

Each of the four Inuit regions throughout Canada has been assigned an Inuit Research Advisor/Research Coordinator to work directly with ArcticNet. The Inuit people have many opportunities and benefits through working with this network. These include educational development, research training, the use of relevant information, inclusion and promotion of traditional Inuit knowledge, support for development of knowledge-based policies that have the possibility of affecting the Arctic and Inuit communities, and, possibly the most important of all, assistance for the Inuit people in development of strategies to deal with the changing climate.

**Resource Development** The Canadian Inuit are aware of the relevant environmental impacts surrounding the issue of resource development. Some of these climate changes have begun to benefit the Inuit in manners such as a decrease in year-round ice cover gradually opening up areas that are rich in previously unreachable resources. However, with this increased interest in resource development, the Inuit people must be aware of not only the possible benefits but also the potential costs. Among these issues are those involving mining and the oil/gas industry. Mining projects, in particular, are a major element of resource development in Inuit lands, reshaping the northern landscape. These resource developments bring many positives to the Inuit people, but there are also many perils, mostly environmental, that potentially come along with these developments.

**International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)** ITK is a member of this committee. Sustainable use of wildlife is one of the pillars of the IUCN, promoting and advancing conservation priorities of the Inuit. There are many species specialist groups that are central to the Inuit population, such as the Polar Bear Specialist Group (PBSG). This specific group was created in large to play a role in providing scientific advice regarding Polar Bears under the management authorities in the areas in which they live. PBSG has an influential role in the range states of the Inuit population. Therefore, Inuit participate as observers at PBSG meetings, monitoring discussions and recommendations. To further their involvement, ITK and the Inuit regions that have been discussed, have made a continual push for voting membership on the PBSG. ( "Dept. of Environment and Wildlife." 2011)

**EU Seal Ban Regulation** In August 2008, the European General Court suspended the EU’s seal product ban regulation. Although the regulation included an “Inuit Exemption”, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and Canadian Inuit groups felt that such an exemption did not protect Inuit rights and interests in trading and selling seal products within the EU. This ban was seen as both illegal and immoral by affected parties, destroying the market for seal products within the Union. Because of this ban, Canadian sealers, the Inuit among this group, were essentially staying at home as they were unable to find buyers for their product (Rettman 2010).