Community perspectives on the environmental impacts of Arctic shipping: Case studies from Russia, Norway and Canada

Growing Arctic shipping poses significant environmental threats to local communities, particularly those reliant on natural landscapes for livelihoods. A study across three island communities—Solovetsky (Russia), Longyearbyen (Norway), and Cambridge Bay (Canada)—revealed widespread concern over ship traffic impacts, though perceptions varied by context. While environmental disruptions were consistently reported, their effects on adaptive capacity differed based on local dependencies and cultural practices. The research highlights the natural environment as a critical factor in community resilience against shipping-related changes, underscoring the need for tailored mitigation strategies.

Olsen, J., Carter, N. A., & Dawson, J. (2019). Community perspectives on the environmental impacts of Arctic shipping: Case studies from Russia, Norway and Canada. Cogent Social Sciences, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2019.1609189