Disasters affect everyone, with the toll emerging from the continued creation and continuation of vulnerabilities. Difficulties with hazards and risks in the Arctic include extreme cold, great distances, periods of darkness, rapidly changing weather and climate, and limited infrastructure. Difficulties with vulnerabilities threaten the sustainability of Arctic peoples and livelihoods. We need to become more proactive in training the next generation of disaster and natural hazard scientists and public safety policy and decision makers, especially to support Arctic Council actions across borders in the North. Our goal is to contribute to this future of better informed, evidence-based, and more collaborative approaches to public safety, especially reducing disaster risks over the long-term.
Video interview: Ilan Kelman, Lead of the UArctic Thematic Network on Disasters and Natural Hazards