Since 2005, shipping traffic has risen by more than 75 percent in the region as climate change opens the Northwest Passage. But concerns from Inuit communities in Nunavut – the island-based territory that frames the notorious sea route – has resulted in the launch of a one-of-a-kind initiative that acts as a platform for northern voices while the Canadian government sets forth proposals for low-impact shipping corridors. By infusing local knowledge and cultural practices into the framework, a more sustainable Arctic shipping policy can be created; one that benefits the industry and preserves Inuit heritage for generations to come.
This article was featured in ECO’s July/August issue. To read the full story, click here.
