Slip-Sliding Away

Qikiqtaruk is an Arctic Island off Canada's coast. It's an ecologically rich location, with Beluga whales, Dolly Varden char, bears (both brown and polar), Musk ox, caribou, as well as circa 200 plant species. This island is culturally important to the indigenous Inuvialuit. In 1984, their elders used newly allocated powers to set up the Herchel Island-Qikiqtaruk territorial park. Summer temperatures are now, however, rapidly melting the permafrost, causing the island to literally slip into the sea (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/21/canada-arctic-herschel-island-qikiqtaruk-climate-permafrost-tundra-ecology-aoe). Although Qikiqtaruk is a relatively small area, it's a very powerful illustration of the devastating impact of climate change. Climate change: coming to a location near you.