Climate Change and the Inuit: Bringing an Effective Human Rights Claim to the United Nations

Abstract

There is a strong connection between climate change and human rights infringements in the Arctic. Global warming poses severe threats to the livelihood of the native Arctic people. The levels of sea ice in the arctic were the lowest they have ever been in 2012. Because most Inuit live along coastlines and river valleys, their health and culture depends on the harvest of fish, whales, and other wildlife. As sea ice levels continue to drop, the populations of these sources of food are dropping as well. With the