Full Proposals for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Proposed IPY Activity Details

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION

(Activity ID No: 310)

1.1 Title of Activity
The Impacts of Oil and Gas Activity on Peoples in the Arctic Using a Multiple Securities Perspective

1.2 Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
GAPS (Gas, Arctic Peoples, and Security)

1.3 Activity Leader Details
Gunhild Hoogensen
University of Tromsø
Norway

1.4 Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)

1.5 Other Countries involved in the activity
Canada
Russia
Finland
Scotland
Netherlands
USA-Alaska

1.6 Expression of Intent ID #'s brought together in this proposed activity
23, 100, 133, 217, 218, 298, 345, 435, 453, 454, 495, 497, 509, 531, 609, 782, 749, 861, 992

1.7 Location of Field Activities
Arctic

1.8 Which IPY themes are addressed
1. Current state of the environment
2. Change in the polar regions
3. Polar-global linkages/tele-connections
6. The human dimension in polar regions

1.9 What is the main IPY target addressed by this activity
1. Natural or social science

top of page

2.0 SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

Since the early 1970s oil and gas development has gradually come to dominate the industrial sector in the Arctic. The pace of development has increased significantly in recent years as the price of oil and gas has risen, motivating industry to travel further north to extract fossil fuels for global consumption. Increasing pressure from various governments—Russian, Norwegian, Canadian and American—require the Arctic to be open for business. Increasingly, Arctic communities are being tied into the global market for oil and gas, putting pressure on their individual and societal capacities to cope with change, participate in resource management decision-making, and secure any possible economic and social benefits. As such, the urgent pace of such development poses critical challenges to the human security of communities, affecting local economies, traditional livelihoods, health, food, and the environment. At the same time traditional securities are increasing in pressure from sovereignty issues to reducing dependencies upon Middle East oil and gas supplies.
A growing body of research and policy work on human security already exists [UNDP, 1994; Canada, 2005; Hoogensen, 2005]. However, little work to date has been conducted on the unique challenges to human security in the Arctic context. Human security attempts to recognize the (in)securities of human beings in a variety of contexts, ranging from health and food security to identity, economic and environmental securities. Oil and gas development from a securities perspective can be seen both positively and negatively, exposing Arctic communities to threats as well as opportunities. This framework provides a vehicle for the expression of vulnerabilities and adaptabilities from the grassroots level, such that individuals and communities themselves can determine what is important to their own sense of security. The need for such comprehensive, participatory research on the impacts of oil and gas development in Arctic communities has been well articulated (AHDR 2004; ACIA 2005; AIL 2005; AIP 2005; ICARP II 2005).
This timely research seeks to understand how oil and gas development impacts the security of Arctic communities, both for themselves as well as in relation to more traditional state-based securities requiring access and exploitation of resources. GAPS is a multidisciplinary project, joining social and natural scientists together, along with participating local communities and organizations, to gather and analyze data on oil and gas development in the Arctic region using a multiple securities approach. The project explores a number of the traditional and human security and environmental relationships in the Arctic and demonstrates the importance of the region to the development of security concepts in relation to environmental change.
Research project objectives:
Expand upon current understandings of human and traditional/state securities in the Arctic and their linkages to climate change;
Explore the meaning of security in Arctic communities and develop an understanding of the factors contributing to (in)securities as they are identified by community members;
Consider how local knowledge exposes (in)securities that have been thus far neglected or overlooked by scientific and policy communities;
Explore new potentials for local adaptabilities previously overlooked by research and policy communities;
Assess the interrelationships between major processes of change in the Arctic (including climate, societal, economic, ecological) and their combined impacts on human security in the region;
Explore new possibilities for community engagement in research in the Arctic and further strengthen university-community research linkages;
Facilitate communication and collaboration between circumpolar communities;
Develop grassroots indicators and methods to assess the impacts of oil and gas development on human security in the Arctic;
Employ innovative methods of data collection and research dissemination (i.e. film and video) to facilitate community access to, and involvement in, the research; and,
Provide the basis for Masters and PhD thesis research for participating graduate students.

2.1 What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
The deliverables involved within this project span across the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and engineering. Our group specializes in anthropology, human geography, political science, ecotoxicology, ecology, chemical and petroleum engineering and cultural/narrative studies.

2.2 What will be the significant advances/developments from this activity? What will be the major deliverables? What are the outputs for your peers?
This project addresses identified research needs from Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), Arctic Human Development Report (AHDR), ICARP II, Aurora Research Institute (ARI), and Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance (AIYA).

Significant advances include the development of a Human Security in the Arctic framework for analysis, research theory and methods, impact assessment methods, university-community research collaboration, and policy recommendations.

Deliverables include an edited book, published symposium proceedings, peer-reviewed journal articles, policy papers, conference and workshop presentations, a documentary film, active community engagement, and Masters and PhD theses.

2.3 Outline the geographical location(s) for the proposed field work (approximate coordinates will be helpful if possible)

2.4 Define the approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities?

2.5 What major logistic support/facilities will be required for this project?
Snow terrain vehicles
Helicopters
Existing field stations

Further details – ATVs

2.6 How will the required logistics be supplied? Have operators been approached?

2.7 If working in the Arctic regions, has there been contact with local indigenous groups or relevant authorities regarding access?
Yes, contact has been made according to the relevant national and regional guidelines and requirements for licensing, ethics review and community consultation and engagement. Researchers possess demonstrated experience in collaborative working relationships with local and Indigenous communities and community groups. Members of this research team have relationships with the Government of the Northwest Territories, Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance (AIYA), Mackenzie Valley Environmental Review Board (MVEIRB), Deh Cho First Nation, Tli Cho Government, North Slave Metis Alliance, Arctic Energy Alliance, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Nordic Sami Institute, Centre for Sami Studies, Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON), Norwegian Polar Institute and the Aurora Research Institute.

top of page

3.0 STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY

3.1 Origin of the activity
This activity is the start of a new programme that will outlive IPY

3.2 How will the activity be organised and managed? Describe the proposed management structure and means for coordinating across the cluster
Key researchers under this proposal will form a steering committee, which will remain in close communication throughout the duration of the IPY project. Additionally, representatives from participating communities and organizations will form an advisory board that will lend guidance and support to the various subprojects within this proposal.

Symposia will be organized as a way to gather together and share research findings. Researchers outside the GAPS team will also be invited to attend and discuss related research.

The steering committee members will maintain regular communication via e-mail and telephone, with tele-conferences organized on a tri-monthly basis. Meetings between steering committee members and advisory board members, as well as other community representatives, will occur regularly throughout the duration of the GAPS project.

3.3 Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
This project will establish a GAPS network of interdisciplinary researchers who are connected to local communities and community organizations, as well as local research bodies. Additionally, this project will facilitate the establishment of a circumpolar network of communities that communicate and collaborate with one another on GAPS issues. The networks will be extended to the policy community and key decision-makers.

3.4 Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will this be addressed?
Scotland and the Netherlands. The Scotland connection brings us an anthropological expert on the Arctic (particularly Russian Indigenous communities). The Netherlands connection brings us additional inquiry from the human security angle for the purposes of comparative learning, bringing the Arctic to a field of researchers unacquainted with the region, expanding the impact of the Arctic on the study of human security.

3.5 Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
This activity will be linked with other IPY core activities through the participation of GAPS members in CAVIAR, CIYCP, MODIL-NAO, and POLAR-WMT.

3.6 How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data management organisations/structures will be involved?
GAPS will manage data according to the data management guidelines presented in the IPY Framework document. Data resulting from research with human informants will be subject to some limitations to respect issues of sensitivity and confidentiality.

3.7 Data Policy Agreement
Will this activity sign up to the IPY draft Data Policy (see website)
Yes

3.8 How will the activity contribute to developing the next generation of polar scientists, logisticians, etc.?
A central focus of this project is the encouragement of "young" research. We have a number of Masters and PhD level students committed to the GAPS project and eager to begin their respective research projects. We also have connections to youth within communities through the AIYA, Sami University College, University of Tromso, and the Circumpolar Indigenous Youth Conservation Project (CIYCP).

3.9 How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Early engagement and active consultation with involve local and indigenous communities in the development of this research from the outset. Communication and collaboration will continue to be key elements in this research plan throughout the duration of the project and beyond. Research direction has, and will continue to be, informed by research needs and objectives identified through dialogue with communities. Where funding is possible, local research assistants will be hired to assist with data collection and dissemination of research findings. Thus, education and training in quantitative and/or qualitative methods will be a legacy of this research. Film will be employed through the project to involve and inform local community members in the research. A documentary film will be produced to facilitate greater accessibility of the research to community members. Additional materials, such as visual presentations (i.e. photography, video), community workshops and/or educational resources, will be used to disseminate research findings to communities.

3.10 What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?
BOREAS
NRF
SSHRC
NSERC
NWT Arts Council
Canada Arts Council
NSTP (Northern Scientific Training Program)
ESF
NORKLIMA
NSF (National Science Foundation)

3.11 Additional Comments

top of page

4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION

4.1 Contact Details

Lead Contact
Dr Gunhild Hoogensen
University of Tromsø
Department of Political Science, University of Tromsø
9037
Norway

Tel:          +4777645593
Mobile:   +4797145942
Fax:         +4777644905
Email:       gunhildh@sv.uit.no

Second Contact
Dr David Malcolm
Arctic Energy Alliance
101-5102 51st Street Yellowknife, NT
X1A 1S7
Canada

Tel:          867-920-3333
Mobile:   N/A
Fax:         867-920-0303
Email:      dmalcolm@aea.nt.ca

4.2 Other significant consortium members and their affiliation