This project has furthered an understanding of what the rest of the world may soon be facing as a result of climate change. This was done by assessing adaptation in the context of development planning in high latitude rural communities by comparing data on recent economic change among a sample of municipalities to identify elements of local developmentstrategies that are associated with positive economic change in the local economy. Perceptions of climate change were then compared to historical, observed, and predicted changes. Specifically, municipalities included were parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and northwestern Russia lying above the Arctic Circle. Results indicate climate change is a significant factor in the municipalities surveyed but that impacts on local economies and societies vary drastically within the Arctic region. Coast-to-interior and north-to-south perspectives have highlighted these differences. By developing a climate change adaptation model, we highlight how various strategies have enhanced adaptive capacity by incorporating lived experiences and local knowledge into climate model projections.

This project has furthered an understanding of what the rest of the world may soon be facing as a result of climate change. This was done by assessing adaptation in the context of development planning in high latitude rural communities by comparing data on recent economic change among a sample of municipalities to identify elements of local development strategies that are associated with positive economic change in the local economy. Perceptions of climate change were then compared to historical, observed, and predicted changes. Specifically, municipalities included were parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and northwestern Russia lying above the Arctic Circle. Results indicate climate change is a significant factor in the municipalities surveyed but that impacts on local economies and societies vary drastically within the Arctic region. Coast-to-interior and north-to-south perspectives have highlighted these differences. By developing a climate change adaptation model, we highlight how various strategies have enhanced adaptive capacity by incorporating lived experiences and local knowledge into climate model projections.