[Applause] it’s my pleasure to be here today and I
it’s my pleasure to be here today and I
it’s my pleasure to be here today and I appreciate the invitation to talk to you
appreciate the invitation to talk to you
appreciate the invitation to talk to you the first thing I’d like to do is I’d
the first thing I’d like to do is I’d
the first thing I’d like to do is I’d like to thank the people and the
like to thank the people and the
like to thank the people and the communities that I have worked with in
communities that I have worked with in
communities that I have worked with in the North for welcoming me welcoming me
the North for welcoming me welcoming me
the North for welcoming me welcoming me to their homes and to their land and I’d
to their homes and to their land and I’d
to their homes and to their land and I’d also like to thank the First Nations
also like to thank the First Nations
also like to thank the First Nations peoples whose land we’re meeting on
peoples whose land we’re meeting on
peoples whose land we’re meeting on today I’m an environmental scientist and
today I’m an environmental scientist and
today I’m an environmental scientist and I’ve been studying mercury in the
I’ve been studying mercury in the
I’ve been studying mercury in the environment for almost 20 years I
environment for almost 20 years I
environment for almost 20 years I studied water quality I study the
studied water quality I study the
studied water quality I study the impacts that we have on ecosystems and
impacts that we have on ecosystems and
impacts that we have on ecosystems and because of the kindness and generosity
because of the kindness and generosity
because of the kindness and generosity of a colleague of mine I had the
of a colleague of mine I had the
of a colleague of mine I had the opportunity to visit a part of Canada
opportunity to visit a part of Canada
opportunity to visit a part of Canada that I’d never been to before this year
that I’d never been to before this year
that I’d never been to before this year spent time in the North but not the
spent time in the North but not the
spent time in the North but not the North North you know not the Yukon
North North you know not the Yukon
North North you know not the Yukon Territories not Nunavut not the
Territories not Nunavut not the
Territories not Nunavut not the northwestern all three of which I saw
northwestern all three of which I saw
northwestern all three of which I saw this year in the process of doing that I
this year in the process of doing that I
this year in the process of doing that I also discovered why I do what I do I’ve
also discovered why I do what I do I’ve
also discovered why I do what I do I’ve been a professor for 15 years and it’s
been a professor for 15 years and it’s
been a professor for 15 years and it’s never been fully clear to me what my
never been fully clear to me what my
never been fully clear to me what my underlying motivation is this is Luke
underlying motivation is this is Luke
underlying motivation is this is Luke Duke in a community of about 1,500
Duke in a community of about 1,500
Duke in a community of about 1,500 people
people
people that’s the Arctic Ocean right there so
that’s the Arctic Ocean right there so
that’s the Arctic Ocean right there so it’s it’s pretty far north a lot farther
it’s it’s pretty far north a lot farther
it’s it’s pretty far north a lot farther north than most people have been and it
north than most people have been and it
north than most people have been and it certainly was the farthest north I had
certainly was the farthest north I had
certainly was the farthest north I had ever be my sign it’s a place that you
ever be my sign it’s a place that you
ever be my sign it’s a place that you can imagine is pretty connected to the
can imagine is pretty connected to the
can imagine is pretty connected to the land it’s a place that it’s underlined
land it’s a place that it’s underlined
land it’s a place that it’s underlined by frozen ground permafrost atom I don’t
by frozen ground permafrost atom I don’t
by frozen ground permafrost atom I don’t know my timer here can you cue me please
know my timer here can you cue me please
know my timer here can you cue me please keep me at 15 it’s underlined by frozen
keep me at 15 it’s underlined by frozen
keep me at 15 it’s underlined by frozen ground you can see the houses are all up
ground you can see the houses are all up
ground you can see the houses are all up on stilts because the ground is covered
on stilts because the ground is covered
on stilts because the ground is covered under lying by permafrost you can’t put
under lying by permafrost you can’t put
under lying by permafrost you can’t put things on the ground real sticky that
things on the ground real sticky that
things on the ground real sticky that melts it
this is just at the end of the day
this is just at the end of the day difference getting out of school the
difference getting out of school the
difference getting out of school the place that’s really connected to the
place that’s really connected to the
place that’s really connected to the land it’s a place that’s remote most
land it’s a place that’s remote most
land it’s a place that’s remote most supplies come in by barge it’s expensive
supplies come in by barge it’s expensive
supplies come in by barge it’s expensive people hunt fish people rely on the land
people hunt fish people rely on the land
people hunt fish people rely on the land for their day-to-day well-being they
for their day-to-day well-being they
for their day-to-day well-being they rely on land for their subsistence they
rely on land for their subsistence they
rely on land for their subsistence they feed themselves and they sustain their
feed themselves and they sustain their
feed themselves and they sustain their economy
they fish a lot this is a picture of
they fish a lot this is a picture of drying our thick char that’s a staple
drying our thick char that’s a staple
drying our thick char that’s a staple diet there and the reason why land food
diet there and the reason why land food
diet there and the reason why land food from the land and food from the local
from the land and food from the local
from the land and food from the local waters is so important because this well
waters is so important because this well
waters is so important because this well pack of coke is 20 bucks right fresh
pack of coke is 20 bucks right fresh
pack of coke is 20 bucks right fresh food fresh vegetables meats things like
food fresh vegetables meats things like
food fresh vegetables meats things like this at the part refrigeration and
this at the part refrigeration and
this at the part refrigeration and shipping are unbelievably expensive and
shipping are unbelievably expensive and
shipping are unbelievably expensive and when your annual income is in the order
when your annual income is in the order
when your annual income is in the order of hundreds to thousands of dollars
of hundreds to thousands of dollars
of hundreds to thousands of dollars that’s it this is a luxury item
that’s it this is a luxury item
that’s it this is a luxury item this isn’t staple food this is what so
this isn’t staple food this is what so
this isn’t staple food this is what so think about if this is threatened right
think about if this is threatened right
think about if this is threatened right think about if that source of staple
think about if that source of staple
think about if that source of staple subsistence food that keeps you going is
subsistence food that keeps you going is
subsistence food that keeps you going is threatened I’m going to present this to
threatened I’m going to present this to
threatened I’m going to present this to you as a risk and I’m gonna try and
you as a risk and I’m gonna try and
you as a risk and I’m gonna try and paint a picture of risk to know there
paint a picture of risk to know there
paint a picture of risk to know there are communities both in terms of
are communities both in terms of
are communities both in terms of environment social that hopefully we can
environment social that hopefully we can
environment social that hopefully we can become engaged in and you can give some
become engaged in and you can give some
become engaged in and you can give some thought about how you might participate
thought about how you might participate
thought about how you might participate we all know what risk is and I’d like us
we all know what risk is and I’d like us
we all know what risk is and I’d like us to think about risk rather than problems
to think about risk rather than problems
to think about risk rather than problems problems require solutions risks
problems require solutions risks
problems require solutions risks requires management I think it’s risk is
requires management I think it’s risk is
requires management I think it’s risk is something that we all are familiar with
something that we all are familiar with
something that we all are familiar with yeah we have risks that we deal with
yeah we have risks that we deal with
yeah we have risks that we deal with every day and we understand risk
every day and we understand risk
every day and we understand risk management we make decisions about what
management we make decisions about what
management we make decisions about what we’re gonna eat what we’re gonna buy who
we’re gonna eat what we’re gonna buy who
we’re gonna eat what we’re gonna buy who we’re gonna talk to we’re gonna spend
we’re gonna talk to we’re gonna spend
we’re gonna talk to we’re gonna spend our time those risks can be kind of
our time those risks can be kind of
our time those risks can be kind of non-life-threatening you know maybe I
non-life-threatening you know maybe I
non-life-threatening you know maybe I want to eat this chocolate bar because
want to eat this chocolate bar because
want to eat this chocolate bar because it tastes good but then I’m worried
it tastes good but then I’m worried
it tastes good but then I’m worried about my caloric intake or maybe I have
about my caloric intake or maybe I have
about my caloric intake or maybe I have to trust this server because they’ve
to trust this server because they’ve
to trust this server because they’ve told me there’s no peanuts in this dish
told me there’s no peanuts in this dish
told me there’s no peanuts in this dish but I might die right these are risk
but I might die right these are risk
but I might die right these are risk trade-off that we’re constantly
trade-off that we’re constantly
trade-off that we’re constantly these are pretty straightforward risk
these are pretty straightforward risk
these are pretty straightforward risk these are simple risks these are ones
these are simple risks these are ones
these are simple risks these are ones that we know what the driver is we know
that we know what the driver is we know
that we know what the driver is we know what the consequences are and we can
what the consequences are and we can
what the consequences are and we can manage them because we understand those
manage them because we understand those
manage them because we understand those we can manage them statistically
we can manage them statistically
we can manage them statistically insurance companies love these kinds of
insurance companies love these kinds of
insurance companies love these kinds of risks car accidents you know the
risks car accidents you know the
risks car accidents you know the likelihood of having heart attack based
likelihood of having heart attack based
likelihood of having heart attack based on your age and lifestyle these are
on your age and lifestyle these are
on your age and lifestyle these are relatively simple risks but the reality
relatively simple risks but the reality
relatively simple risks but the reality in the environment is that risks are not
in the environment is that risks are not
in the environment is that risks are not nearly so straightforward
nearly so straightforward
nearly so straightforward they are risks that have complexity they
they are risks that have complexity they
they are risks that have complexity they have interdependencies they have a
have interdependencies they have a
have interdependencies they have a social context they’re definitely
social context they’re definitely
social context they’re definitely involve multiple or groups of people if
involve multiple or groups of people if
involve multiple or groups of people if they’re multi stakeholder and they
they’re multi stakeholder and they
they’re multi stakeholder and they involve the social dimension all of
involve the social dimension all of
involve the social dimension all of these things together contribute to high
these things together contribute to high
these things together contribute to high levels of uncertainty about how to
levels of uncertainty about how to
levels of uncertainty about how to handle these how to manage them in a
handle these how to manage them in a
handle these how to manage them in a meaningful way that we can deem
meaningful way that we can deem
meaningful way that we can deem acceptable or at least tolerable to the
acceptable or at least tolerable to the
acceptable or at least tolerable to the people who are these are often referred
people who are these are often referred
people who are these are often referred to as systemic risks there’s a really
to as systemic risks there’s a really
to as systemic risks there’s a really interesting body of literature about
interesting body of literature about
interesting body of literature about risk cutoff there that I find
risk cutoff there that I find
risk cutoff there that I find fascinating because what it does it
fascinating because what it does it
fascinating because what it does it speaks to all of the things that come
speaks to all of the things that come
speaks to all of the things that come together to help us understand risk
together to help us understand risk
together to help us understand risk related to complex environment certainly
related to complex environment certainly
related to complex environment certainly one of the big issues is that there’s a
one of the big issues is that there’s a
one of the big issues is that there’s a huge amount of complexity because of
huge amount of complexity because of
huge amount of complexity because of interrelationships of the economy of
interrelationships of the economy of
interrelationships of the economy of society and social questions and
society and social questions and
society and social questions and environmental a huge amount of
environmental a huge amount of
environmental a huge amount of uncertainty associated with these
uncertainty associated with these
uncertainty associated with these problems that involve the environment
problems that involve the environment
problems that involve the environment because we don’t understand the
because we don’t understand the
because we don’t understand the environment very well may as much work
environment very well may as much work
environment very well may as much work as we do on it and even I can get myself
as we do on it and even I can get myself
as we do on it and even I can get myself as an environmental scientist I feel
as an environmental scientist I feel
as an environmental scientist I feel like I know nothing complexity over
like I know nothing complexity over
like I know nothing complexity over space finally we have ambiguity about
space finally we have ambiguity about
space finally we have ambiguity about the nature of the risk because those of
the nature of the risk because those of
the nature of the risk because those of us sitting here at Western will view an
us sitting here at Western will view an
us sitting here at Western will view an environmental risk very differently than
environmental risk very differently than
environmental risk very differently than someone that is living on the coast of
someone that is living on the coast of
someone that is living on the coast of the Arctic Ocean and so what I’m going
the Arctic Ocean and so what I’m going
the Arctic Ocean and so what I’m going to paint for you today is a bit of a
to paint for you today is a bit of a
to paint for you today is a bit of a discussion about two of those
discussion about two of those
discussion about two of those kind of those major environmental risks
kind of those major environmental risks
kind of those major environmental risks those challenges and have us think a
those challenges and have us think a
those challenges and have us think a little bit about what role we can play
little bit about what role we can play
little bit about what role we can play so this is what I do
so this is what I do
so this is what I do here’s me up here I’m the environmental
here’s me up here I’m the environmental
here’s me up here I’m the environmental scientist I get to go out to amazing
scientist I get to go out to amazing
scientist I get to go out to amazing places to do the work that I do not
places to do the work that I do not
places to do the work that I do not because I mean it’s an added bonus that
because I mean it’s an added bonus that
because I mean it’s an added bonus that there beautiful places with beautiful
there beautiful places with beautiful
there beautiful places with beautiful people but it’s just the it’s where some
people but it’s just the it’s where some
people but it’s just the it’s where some of these complex problems are vested
of these complex problems are vested
of these complex problems are vested right now beautiful Northwest
right now beautiful Northwest
right now beautiful Northwest Territories where I was this summer this
Territories where I was this summer this
Territories where I was this summer this tundra it’s a little bit dark but this
tundra it’s a little bit dark but this
tundra it’s a little bit dark but this is this big flat expansive landscape
is this big flat expansive landscape
is this big flat expansive landscape with the Arctic Ocean and the button in
with the Arctic Ocean and the button in
with the Arctic Ocean and the button in the back this is up here on Kewanee Lake
the back this is up here on Kewanee Lake
the back this is up here on Kewanee Lake and Yukon sampling for water quality
and Yukon sampling for water quality
and Yukon sampling for water quality these are unbelievable opportunities and
these are unbelievable opportunities and
these are unbelievable opportunities and experiences that I have
but what drives me there what makes me
but what drives me there what makes me think about these problems are this
think about these problems are this
think about these problems are this stomach the industrialization of our
stomach the industrialization of our
stomach the industrialization of our modern world has presents us with some
modern world has presents us with some
modern world has presents us with some of the most profound systemic risks that
of the most profound systemic risks that
of the most profound systemic risks that we can imagine certainly the impacts on
we can imagine certainly the impacts on
we can imagine certainly the impacts on the environment as a result of that’s
the environment as a result of that’s
the environment as a result of that’s those drivers of that industrialization
those drivers of that industrialization
those drivers of that industrialization of our world is global in scale in scope
of our world is global in scale in scope
of our world is global in scale in scope we know this a climate change is
we know this a climate change is
we know this a climate change is something that affects every part what
something that affects every part what
something that affects every part what we often don’t think about is how
we often don’t think about is how
we often don’t think about is how industrialization has also affected
industrialization has also affected
industrialization has also affected things like food quality
things like food quality
things like food quality industrialization has dispersed
industrialization has dispersed
industrialization has dispersed contaminants like mercury around the
contaminants like mercury around the
contaminants like mercury around the world in the same way that it’s
world in the same way that it’s
world in the same way that it’s dispersed carbon dioxide around so we
dispersed carbon dioxide around so we
dispersed carbon dioxide around so we have contamination of ecosystems and
have contamination of ecosystems and
have contamination of ecosystems and foods which is how I’d like to start
foods which is how I’d like to start
foods which is how I’d like to start reframing a fish to you it’s somebody’s
reframing a fish to you it’s somebody’s
reframing a fish to you it’s somebody’s dinner and not by choice but by
dinner and not by choice but by
dinner and not by choice but by necessity we have contamination of foods
necessity we have contamination of foods
necessity we have contamination of foods that are really have nothing to do with
that are really have nothing to do with
that are really have nothing to do with the people who need this the most it’s
the people who need this the most it’s
the people who need this the most it’s driven by our global processes of
driven by our global processes of
driven by our global processes of industrialization the same as climate
industrialization the same as climate
industrialization the same as climate change
a little bit fast so the first example I
a little bit fast so the first example I want to give to you is climate change in
want to give to you is climate change in
want to give to you is climate change in the north so I’m going to frame these
the north so I’m going to frame these
the north so I’m going to frame these problems from the northern perspective
problems from the northern perspective
problems from the northern perspective for you Coppermine
for you Coppermine
for you Coppermine River it’s not just a pretty picture
River it’s not just a pretty picture
River it’s not just a pretty picture slideshow I’m trying to get you to think
slideshow I’m trying to get you to think
slideshow I’m trying to get you to think about how beautiful these places are and
about how beautiful these places are and
about how beautiful these places are and how important they are to to our world
how important they are to to our world
how important they are to to our world not just here we are with an interesting
not just here we are with an interesting
not just here we are with an interesting figure from the most recent IPCC the
figure from the most recent IPCC the
figure from the most recent IPCC the occupied one glory with too much data
occupied one glory with too much data
occupied one glory with too much data but this diagram is an interesting one
but this diagram is an interesting one
but this diagram is an interesting one it tells us how much temperature
it tells us how much temperature
it tells us how much temperature increase there will be in different
increase there will be in different
increase there will be in different parts of the world relative to how much
parts of the world relative to how much
parts of the world relative to how much warmer the world is going to be overall
warmer the world is going to be overall
warmer the world is going to be overall so what this means that if the world is
so what this means that if the world is
so what this means that if the world is gonna be two degrees warmer overall then
gonna be two degrees warmer overall then
gonna be two degrees warmer overall then here we are in London we’re gonna be
here we are in London we’re gonna be
here we are in London we’re gonna be about two degrees warmer than that so
about two degrees warmer than that so
about two degrees warmer than that so the whole world is gonna increase by two
the whole world is gonna increase by two
the whole world is gonna increase by two we’re going to increase by okay and you
we’re going to increase by okay and you
we’re going to increase by okay and you can see that most of the high lap mid
can see that most of the high lap mid
can see that most of the high lap mid latitudes are kind of about the same you
latitudes are kind of about the same you
latitudes are kind of about the same you know everyone’s kind of hovering around
know everyone’s kind of hovering around
know everyone’s kind of hovering around that we’re gonna increase about as much
that we’re gonna increase about as much
that we’re gonna increase about as much as the rest of it if we go into the high
as the rest of it if we go into the high
as the rest of it if we go into the high latitudes we’re talking anywhere between
latitudes we’re talking anywhere between
latitudes we’re talking anywhere between four and six degrees warmer than the
four and six degrees warmer than the
four and six degrees warmer than the rest of the world
rest of the world
rest of the world so a lot of projections have by 2100 the
so a lot of projections have by 2100 the
so a lot of projections have by 2100 the northern parts of our continent being
northern parts of our continent being
northern parts of our continent being about eight to ten degrees warmer than
about eight to ten degrees warmer than
about eight to ten degrees warmer than they are so the difference between being
they are so the difference between being
they are so the difference between being one or two degrees warmer versus ten
one or two degrees warmer versus ten
one or two degrees warmer versus ten degrees warmer it’s quite significant
degrees warmer it’s quite significant
degrees warmer it’s quite significant particularly when you think about
particularly when you think about
particularly when you think about people’s connection to the land and the
people’s connection to the land and the
people’s connection to the land and the importance
importance
importance snow precipitation is gonna do the same
snow precipitation is gonna do the same
snow precipitation is gonna do the same thing right we don’t change that much we
thing right we don’t change that much we
thing right we don’t change that much we increase a bit so per degree warmer the
increase a bit so per degree warmer the
increase a bit so per degree warmer the earth is we’re gonna go out by about
earth is we’re gonna go out by about
earth is we’re gonna go out by about three percent more rainfall and snow far
three percent more rainfall and snow far
three percent more rainfall and snow far north it’s well over twelve percent more
north it’s well over twelve percent more
north it’s well over twelve percent more so you might think that that’s good but
so you might think that that’s good but
so you might think that that’s good but actually the North is really dry no more
actually the North is really dry no more
actually the North is really dry no more snow and more rain actually really
snow and more rain actually really
snow and more rain actually really changes the ecosystem quite a lot and it
changes the ecosystem quite a lot and it
changes the ecosystem quite a lot and it also provides feedbacks into other
also provides feedbacks into other
also provides feedbacks into other aspects of the environment so in the
aspects of the environment so in the
aspects of the environment so in the north and climate change I mean there’s
north and climate change I mean there’s
north and climate change I mean there’s all kinds of interacting things that are
all kinds of interacting things that are
all kinds of interacting things that are gonna happen I’m highlighting a few of
gonna happen I’m highlighting a few of
gonna happen I’m highlighting a few of them here for you we’re gonna have
them here for you we’re gonna have
them here for you we’re gonna have warmer oils we have warmer waters
warmer oils we have warmer waters
warmer oils we have warmer waters there’s gonna be more rain and snow and
there’s gonna be more rain and snow and
there’s gonna be more rain and snow and that’s gonna lead to all kinds of
that’s gonna lead to all kinds of
that’s gonna lead to all kinds of problematic things in the in the
problematic things in the in the
problematic things in the in the environment permafrost thaw is one of
environment permafrost thaw is one of
environment permafrost thaw is one of the big ones that I think we’re hearing
the big ones that I think we’re hearing
the big ones that I think we’re hearing a lot more about these days this is what
a lot more about these days this is what
a lot more about these days this is what it looks like this is a picture by my
it looks like this is a picture by my
it looks like this is a picture by my colleague Scott Munroe from Queens
colleague Scott Munroe from Queens
colleague Scott Munroe from Queens University it’s flying over Banks Island
University it’s flying over Banks Island
University it’s flying over Banks Island this summer and all of these big bites
this summer and all of these big bites
this summer and all of these big bites out of landscape is the frozen ground
out of landscape is the frozen ground
out of landscape is the frozen ground thawing and just running off into the
thawing and just running off into the
thawing and just running off into the ocean you know this is what happens when
ocean you know this is what happens when
ocean you know this is what happens when we start thawing grounds been frozen for
we start thawing grounds been frozen for
we start thawing grounds been frozen for tens of thousands of years this is a
tens of thousands of years this is a
tens of thousands of years this is a sort of the ground image of what happens
sort of the ground image of what happens
sort of the ground image of what happens in parts of Northwest Territories when
in parts of Northwest Territories when
in parts of Northwest Territories when we saw the ground this is what forest
we saw the ground this is what forest
we saw the ground this is what forest looks like when it’s frozen underneath
looks like when it’s frozen underneath
looks like when it’s frozen underneath it’s perfectly fine pause in the summer
it’s perfectly fine pause in the summer
it’s perfectly fine pause in the summer but it’s still frozen down deeper but
but it’s still frozen down deeper but
but it’s still frozen down deeper but when it starts thawing permanently it
when it starts thawing permanently it
when it starts thawing permanently it just turns into this sort of marshy wet
just turns into this sort of marshy wet
just turns into this sort of marshy wet it’s totally different in terms of the
it’s totally different in terms of the
it’s totally different in terms of the chemistry totally different in terms of
chemistry totally different in terms of
chemistry totally different in terms of the carbon and it affects everything
the carbon and it affects everything
the carbon and it affects everything else that it’s connected
else that it’s connected
else that it’s connected it certainly affects things like mercury
it certainly affects things like mercury
it certainly affects things like mercury so this is sang West Lake in the
so this is sang West Lake in the
so this is sang West Lake in the Northwest Territories a very beautiful
Northwest Territories a very beautiful
Northwest Territories a very beautiful small lake a really important Lake to
small lake a really important Lake to
small lake a really important Lake to the gene resource nation that use it for
the gene resource nation that use it for
the gene resource nation that use it for traditional fishing and they have done
traditional fishing and they have done
traditional fishing and they have done for as long as anybody knows generation
for as long as anybody knows generation
for as long as anybody knows generation after generation the problem is that the
after generation the problem is that the
after generation the problem is that the footprint of industrialization has found
footprint of industrialization has found
footprint of industrialization has found its way of course even to their fish
its way of course even to their fish
its way of course even to their fish from sangwich lake above a certain size
from sangwich lake above a certain size
from sangwich lake above a certain size that have certain species are no longer
that have certain species are no longer
that have certain species are no longer safe for people to eat this is this is
safe for people to eat this is this is
safe for people to eat this is this is this is a risk this because that’s a
this is a risk this because that’s a
this is a risk this because that’s a risk cultural and social risk that I
risk cultural and social risk that I
risk cultural and social risk that I don’t think we can fully imagine what
don’t think we can fully imagine what
don’t think we can fully imagine what does that look like why is this well
does that look like why is this well
does that look like why is this well mercury accumulates in fish humiliates
mercury accumulates in fish humiliates
mercury accumulates in fish humiliates in fish as they get older and bigger so
in fish as they get older and bigger so
in fish as they get older and bigger so when we have fish that are above a
when we have fish that are above a
when we have fish that are above a certain size they start you know
certain size they start you know
certain size they start you know increasing in mercury concentration this
increasing in mercury concentration this
increasing in mercury concentration this is mercury concentration thank for those
is mercury concentration thank for those
is mercury concentration thank for those of us in other parts of the country if
of us in other parts of the country if
of us in other parts of the country if we want to go to the store and buy some
we want to go to the store and buy some
we want to go to the store and buy some fish we’re not allowed to buy fish that
fish we’re not allowed to buy fish that
fish we’re not allowed to buy fish that has concentrations above 0.5 parts
has concentrations above 0.5 parts
has concentrations above 0.5 parts there’s lots of fish sank ways like that
there’s lots of fish sank ways like that
there’s lots of fish sank ways like that have concentrations about 0.5 but of
have concentrations about 0.5 but of
have concentrations about 0.5 but of course we don’t subsist on that fish
course we don’t subsist on that fish
course we don’t subsist on that fish people there have to subscribe to this
people there have to subscribe to this
people there have to subscribe to this limit because if you’re eating a lot of
limit because if you’re eating a lot of
limit because if you’re eating a lot of it you can’t eat as much and you can’t
it you can’t eat as much and you can’t
it you can’t eat as much and you can’t tolerate this basically means that
tolerate this basically means that
tolerate this basically means that almost every fish bigger than this is in
almost every fish bigger than this is in
almost every fish bigger than this is in some way shape or form a risk like that
some way shape or form a risk like that
some way shape or form a risk like that signs posted around lakes that are
signs posted around lakes that are
signs posted around lakes that are literally I mean in it for though for us
literally I mean in it for though for us
literally I mean in it for though for us the middle no one to tell us that
the middle no one to tell us that
the middle no one to tell us that mercury that are above consumption
mercury that are above consumption
mercury that are above consumption guidelines and for example a child can
guidelines and for example a child can
guidelines and for example a child can only one serving per month which is
only one serving per month which is
only one serving per month which is equivalent to a pack of cards that’s not
equivalent to a pack of cards that’s not
equivalent to a pack of cards that’s not a lot food that’s not a lot of protein
a lot food that’s not a lot of protein
a lot food that’s not a lot of protein that means that food has to be derived
that means that food has to be derived
that means that food has to be derived from other places which means we’re
from other places which means we’re
from other places which means we’re starting to rely on other sources of
starting to rely on other sources of
starting to rely on other sources of food that are maybe not certainly
food that are maybe not certainly
food that are maybe not certainly non-traditional and certainly may not be
non-traditional and certainly may not be
non-traditional and certainly may not be itself
I’ve already presented these points to
I’ve already presented these points to you
you
you warmer soils warmer waters more rain and
warmer soils warmer waters more rain and
warmer soils warmer waters more rain and snow permafrost thaw as things that are
snow permafrost thaw as things that are
snow permafrost thaw as things that are driving change in the north as a result
driving change in the north as a result
driving change in the north as a result of climate change but these things also
of climate change but these things also
of climate change but these things also affect mercury infection warmer soils
affect mercury infection warmer soils
affect mercury infection warmer soils and warmer waters promote processes in
and warmer waters promote processes in
and warmer waters promote processes in the landscape that make mercury more
the landscape that make mercury more
the landscape that make mercury more available on to those organisms more
available on to those organisms more
available on to those organisms more rain and snow results in more mercury
rain and snow results in more mercury
rain and snow results in more mercury running off the landscape and into the
running off the landscape and into the
running off the landscape and into the lakes which then further promotes
lakes which then further promotes
lakes which then further promotes greater accumulation and permafrost thaw
greater accumulation and permafrost thaw
greater accumulation and permafrost thaw takes this huge vault of contaminants
takes this huge vault of contaminants
takes this huge vault of contaminants that have been stored in the landscape
that have been stored in the landscape
that have been stored in the landscape and translates it into water that then
and translates it into water that then
and translates it into water that then flows off the land off the land and into
flows off the land off the land and into
flows off the land off the land and into lakes and rivers so all of these things
lakes and rivers so all of these things
lakes and rivers so all of these things you know start to start to cause us to
you know start to start to cause us to
you know start to start to cause us to under to question what’s happening here
under to question what’s happening here
under to question what’s happening here how am i doing for time Adam
so we have now an intersection of two
so we have now an intersection of two interesting and complex risk spheres
interesting and complex risk spheres
interesting and complex risk spheres climate and contaminants both of them
climate and contaminants both of them
climate and contaminants both of them being driven by an industrialization of
being driven by an industrialization of
being driven by an industrialization of our globe but now interdigitating both
our globe but now interdigitating both
our globe but now interdigitating both of them individually presenting risks to
of them individually presenting risks to
of them individually presenting risks to northern residents and northern
northern residents and northern
northern residents and northern ecosystems and then together presenting
ecosystems and then together presenting
ecosystems and then together presenting a compounded risk that the complexity of
a compounded risk that the complexity of
a compounded risk that the complexity of which and the interplay between all of
which and the interplay between all of
which and the interplay between all of these factors becomes a little bit my
these factors becomes a little bit my
these factors becomes a little bit my number and we start thinking about all
number and we start thinking about all
number and we start thinking about all of the things that are going so let’s
of the things that are going so let’s
of the things that are going so let’s return you know to our diagram that
return you know to our diagram that
return you know to our diagram that speaks to the complexity and the
speaks to the complexity and the
speaks to the complexity and the uncertainty of this process these are
uncertainty of this process these are
uncertainty of this process these are our three spheres
our three spheres
our three spheres we have our economy our environment we
we have our economy our environment we
we have our economy our environment we have our social sphere we’re in the
have our social sphere we’re in the
have our social sphere we’re in the social sphere I’m giving you the example
social sphere I’m giving you the example
social sphere I’m giving you the example of food security and food sovereignty
of food security and food sovereignty
of food security and food sovereignty for northern communities the
for northern communities the
for northern communities the interdigitating the intersection of
interdigitating the intersection of
interdigitating the intersection of these three Sisk spheres right here and
these three Sisk spheres right here and
these three Sisk spheres right here and that’s the north those are the
that’s the north those are the
that’s the north those are the communities that we’re talking about
communities that we’re talking about
communities that we’re talking about that we’re not in that risk we’re not in
that we’re not in that risk we’re not in
that we’re not in that risk we’re not in this nexus between all of these
this nexus between all of these
this nexus between all of these somewhere here where we don’t have all
somewhere here where we don’t have all
somewhere here where we don’t have all of these things laying on top of one
of these things laying on top of one
of these things laying on top of one that you know cause us to have concern
that you know cause us to have concern
that you know cause us to have concern for our social
so let’s give some thought to risk
so let’s give some thought to risk governance instead of problem-solving
governance instead of problem-solving
governance instead of problem-solving we’re gonna govern this risk we’re gonna
we’re gonna govern this risk we’re gonna
we’re gonna govern this risk we’re gonna figure out what we need to do in order
figure out what we need to do in order
figure out what we need to do in order to determine whether a risk that we
to determine whether a risk that we
to determine whether a risk that we present somebody with is acceptable and
present somebody with is acceptable and
present somebody with is acceptable and I posed the question well who is it that
I posed the question well who is it that
I posed the question well who is it that determines whether the risk of climate
determines whether the risk of climate
determines whether the risk of climate change is driven by globalization
change is driven by globalization
change is driven by globalization industrialization who determines whether
industrialization who determines whether
industrialization who determines whether that risk is acceptable or whether the
that risk is acceptable or whether the
that risk is acceptable or whether the risk of mercury contamination to fish
risk of mercury contamination to fish
risk of mercury contamination to fish that are staple service of our diamond
that are staple service of our diamond
that are staple service of our diamond part of our diet who determines whether
part of our diet who determines whether
part of our diet who determines whether that risk is acceptable I’m gonna I’m
that risk is acceptable I’m gonna I’m
that risk is acceptable I’m gonna I’m gonna make the case that it’s everyone
gonna make the case that it’s everyone
gonna make the case that it’s everyone it’s all of us it’s all of the
it’s all of us it’s all of the
it’s all of us it’s all of the legitimate voices that need to take part
legitimate voices that need to take part
legitimate voices that need to take part in this conversation it’s not us here
in this conversation it’s not us here
in this conversation it’s not us here it’s not exclusively people in northern
it’s not exclusively people in northern
it’s not exclusively people in northern communities it’s all of us that have
communities it’s all of us that have
communities it’s all of us that have legitimate voices to participate most
legitimate voices to participate most
legitimate voices to participate most oftentimes our wrists are not acceptable
oftentimes our wrists are not acceptable
oftentimes our wrists are not acceptable okay tolerable maybe in which case we
okay tolerable maybe in which case we
okay tolerable maybe in which case we get into a sphere of risk management we
get into a sphere of risk management we
get into a sphere of risk management we start thinking about what we need to do
start thinking about what we need to do
start thinking about what we need to do in order to keep that risk tolerable so
in order to keep that risk tolerable so
in order to keep that risk tolerable so that it doesn’t get into the realm of
that it doesn’t get into the realm of
that it doesn’t get into the realm of something or into intolerable risk is
something or into intolerable risk is
something or into intolerable risk is the one that we can’t possibly continue
the one that we can’t possibly continue
the one that we can’t possibly continue on this path we can’t continue on a path
on this path we can’t continue on a path
on this path we can’t continue on a path whereby we are going to continue to
whereby we are going to continue to
whereby we are going to continue to threaten our well-being as a society as
threaten our well-being as a society as
threaten our well-being as a society as a society so I’m gonna make the case
a society so I’m gonna make the case
a society so I’m gonna make the case that when we start thinking about risk
that when we start thinking about risk
that when we start thinking about risk governance we all can contribute to the
governance we all can contribute to the
governance we all can contribute to the governance of complex global risks we
governance of complex global risks we
governance of complex global risks we all can play a role in this because we
all can play a role in this because we
all can play a role in this because we all have something to contribute my
all have something to contribute my
all have something to contribute my contributions are small they’re in one
contributions are small they’re in one
contributions are small they’re in one area of environmental science where I’m
area of environmental science where I’m
area of environmental science where I’m trying to address questions of
trying to address questions of
trying to address questions of uncertainty in some specific things
uncertainty in some specific things
uncertainty in some specific things related to mercury
related to mercury
related to mercury but I’ve come to realize that what I’m
but I’ve come to realize that what I’m
but I’ve come to realize that what I’m doing is contributing to a management or
doing is contributing to a management or
doing is contributing to a management or governance of a set of complex systemic
governance of a set of complex systemic
governance of a set of complex systemic risks that face communities and my
risks that face communities and my
risks that face communities and my motivation is trying to understand that
motivation is trying to understand that
motivation is trying to understand that on behalf of communities that don’t have
on behalf of communities that don’t have
on behalf of communities that don’t have the needs to necessarily undertake
we can all equitably contribute and
we can all equitably contribute and include legitimate voices in this
include legitimate voices in this
include legitimate voices in this conversation right those legitimate
conversation right those legitimate
conversation right those legitimate voices include us they include people
voices include us they include people
voices include us they include people who are living in other countries that
who are living in other countries that
who are living in other countries that we’re pollution is is rising but it’s
we’re pollution is is rising but it’s
we’re pollution is is rising but it’s also voices and legitimate concerns
also voices and legitimate concerns
also voices and legitimate concerns raised by communities that are impacted
raised by communities that are impacted
raised by communities that are impacted by these processes I who have had
by these processes I who have had
by these processes I who have had nothing to do with
nothing to do with
nothing to do with [Music]
I think we can also all work together
I think we can also all work together especially in Canada to build trust and
especially in Canada to build trust and
especially in Canada to build trust and consensus amongst all of the
consensus amongst all of the
consensus amongst all of the stakeholders and all of the people who
stakeholders and all of the people who
stakeholders and all of the people who are contributing their voices to this as
are contributing their voices to this as
are contributing their voices to this as part of that trust and consensus is in
part of that trust and consensus is in
part of that trust and consensus is in fact accepting and acknowledging so
fact accepting and acknowledging so
fact accepting and acknowledging so here’s me I’m in the environment this is
here’s me I’m in the environment this is
here’s me I’m in the environment this is what I do this is my little part myself
what I do this is my little part myself
what I do this is my little part myself my students my colleagues go out and do
my students my colleagues go out and do
my students my colleagues go out and do our best to inform what’s happening in
our best to inform what’s happening in
our best to inform what’s happening in the environment through our science so I
the environment through our science so I
the environment through our science so I ask you to consider where you are we all
ask you to consider where you are we all
ask you to consider where you are we all have a role to play in understanding
have a role to play in understanding
have a role to play in understanding these problems we don’t have to solve
these problems we don’t have to solve
these problems we don’t have to solve them individually we don’t have to be in
them individually we don’t have to be in
them individually we don’t have to be in charge of this whole process but we can
charge of this whole process but we can
charge of this whole process but we can all be a player in understanding these
all be a player in understanding these
all be a player in understanding these risks and that may simply be by having
risks and that may simply be by having
risks and that may simply be by having an open mind and an open heart to the
an open mind and an open heart to the
an open mind and an open heart to the legitimate voices that contribute to
legitimate voices that contribute to
legitimate voices that contribute to this so why not New Age thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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