An interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary study, conducted by an international team featuring members from the University of Vienna and the Danish Technical University/Umea University, has explored the social risks resulting from thawing permafrost in Arctic areas. They pinpointed five primary risks involving infrastructure, transportation and supply, water quality, food security, and health. The findings indicate that as permafrost thaws, there is a greater risk of infectious diseases, the release of harmful substances, and disruptions in supply routes. This research is documented in the journal Communications Earth and Environment.
The melting of permafrost brings a variety of dangers to the Arctic environment and people’s livelihoods. The ongoing thaw of these soils not only represents a global concern due to the carbon dioxide and methane trapped within, but it also significantly impacts around three million residents living in permafrost areas. Recognizing these dangers is essential for creating informed policies and adapting to changing conditions. To uncover these risks, researchers examined four Arctic regions from 2017 to 2023 as part of the “Nunataryuk” initiative: Longyearbyen (Svalbard, Norway), the municipality of Avannaata (Greenland), the Beaufort Sea region and the Mackenzie River Delta (Canada), and the Bulunskiy district in Russia’s Republic of Sakha. The research team consisted of experts in engineering, physics, environmental science, social science, and health. Susanna Gartler, an anthropologist and co-director of the study from the University of Vienna, noted, “Our thorough risk analysis was made possible through in-depth communication with local stakeholders and experts in permafrost science, incorporating a wide-ranging perspective on both physical processes and social effects of thawing permafrost.”
Through their analysis, the researchers found five interconnected key hazards: infrastructure collapse, interruptions in mobility and supply, declining water quality, difficulties in food security, and increased exposure to diseases and contaminants. Coastal areas, river banks, delta regions, and mountains are particularly susceptible to these infrastructure issues. One resident shared a troubling experience: “I have a camp by the river. This summer, a large piece of land next to my cabin broke off and plunged into the river. It’s frightening.” While some erosion occurs gradually, in delta regions, significant land sections can erode almost overnight. With regards to health and ecosystems, there is concern over the release of contaminants from old oil and gas sites prompted by melting permafrost. The industry historically left behind waste, operating under the assumption that these soils would stay frozen—an assumption now being upended by rising global temperatures.
In Canada and similar regions where residents rely heavily on hunting and fishing, erosion impacts food security by making access to hunting and fishing camps more challenging, along with the threat of quicksand-like conditions and thaw slumps (a form of landslide). In Longyearbyen, Svalbard, the thawing permafrost is also jeopardizing access to safe drinking water, as the dam for the main water source, Isdammen, is situated on frozen ground. This poses a significant concern for the health and well-being of the local community. In a related follow-up initiative called ILLUQ, researchers are now delving into the connections between permafrost, health, and pollution.
