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The impact of climate change on tribal communities in the US: displacement, relocation, and human rights

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Abstract

Tribal communities in the United States, particularly in coastal areas, are being forced to relocate due to accelerated rates of sea level rise, land erosion, and/or permafrost thaw brought on by climate change. Forced relocation and inadequate governance mechanisms and budgets to address climate change and support adaptation strategies may cause loss of community and culture, health impacts, and economic decline, further exacerbating tribal impoverishment and injustice. Sovereign tribal communities around the US, however, are using creative strategies to counter these losses. Taking a human rights approach, this article looks at communities’ advocacy efforts and strategies in dealing with climate change, displacement, and relocation. Case studies of Coastal Alaska and Louisiana are included to consider how communities are shaping their own relocation efforts in line with their cultural practices and values. The article concludes with recommendations on steps for moving forward toward community-led and government-supported resettlement programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, American University, Washington, DC, USA

    Julie Koppel Maldonado

  2. Department of Sociology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

    Christine Shearer

  3. Alaska Institute for Justice, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA

    Robin Bronen

  4. Center for Hazards, Assessment and Response Technology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Kristina Peterson

  5. NCAR Earth System Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA

    Heather Lazrus

Authors
  1. Julie Koppel Maldonado
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  2. Christine Shearer
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  3. Robin Bronen
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  4. Kristina Peterson
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  5. Heather Lazrus
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Correspondence to Julie Koppel Maldonado.

Additional information

This article is part of a Special Issue on “Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States: Impacts, Experiences, and Actions” edited by Julie Koppel Maldonado, Rajul E. Pandya, and Benedict J. Colombi.

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Maldonado, J.K., Shearer, C., Bronen, R. et al. The impact of climate change on tribal communities in the US: displacement, relocation, and human rights. Climatic Change 120, 601–614 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0746-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0746-z

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