Climate change means ice road season two-thirds shorter: Regional Chief

Claiming climate change is disproportionately impacting the far north, indigenous leaders are calling for a study to determine the impacts of rising global temperatures on the northern way of life.

“I am calling upon our Treaty partners the federal and provincial government to step up now and order a Climate Change Impact Study for the north. We can’t wait any longer," Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day said in a release.

"Climate change has dramatically reduced the length of time winter roads are accessible causing shortages of food, fuel and medical supplies and increasing the need to fly-in supplies. This results in higher living costs and potential decreases in quality of life and health.”

While the Chiefs of Ontario issued a statement praising the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reached earlier this month in Paris, the group said it was disappointed indigenous rights and jurisdiction were not a component of the deal.

Remote First Nations in northern Ontario are already experiencing the adverse effects of rising temperatures. Local economies stand to lose $5 million as the ice roads connecting 31 communities are not expected to be in place by mid-January. The winter road season that was once as long as 60 days has been as short as 20 days in recent years.

Beyond financial interests, Day pointed out, the increased isolation has a social cost on mental health. Families that can only be connected via winter roads have seen each other less often over the last decade and Day said that has played a role in "record-breaking" suicide rates, isolation and loneliness.

“The social impact is most acutely felt by First Nation people in the remote north. Adapting to climate change for them is a life or death issue,” Ontario Regional Chief said. “Many health problems that northern communities already deal with like mold in houses, safe and clean drinking water, and respiratory problems, will be worsened by the effects of climate change."