Sakha Republic (Yakutia): Local Projections of Climate Changes and Adaptation Problems of Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

The most dramatic collisions, directly or indirectly related to changes in the global climate, have occurred in Yakutia (Sakha Republic, Russian Federation) through a noticeable growth in natural disasters (such as floods, fires, and drought). The range and scope of these collisions increases the costs of mitigation and continual deterioration of the environment. As sociological studies show, the issues of ecology and environmental change are always present in the list of the stressful subjects, causing serious concerns for the indigenous peoples, together with such vital issues as unemployment and rising commodity prices.

In this regard, it is interesting to consider the local aspects of climate variability in the light of observations, opinions and assessments of the indigenous people themselves, most of whom live in rural areas. This chapter presents the results of a field study conducted by the author in the village of Betenkes, Verkhoyansk Ulus (District). The results indicate that for inhabitants of that transpolar village, climate change is not a distant prospect but a directly experienced reality to which they are currently trying to adapt.

The climate is crawling like a snail, barely noticeable, and destroying civilizations – A. Nikonov