National EPA–Tribal Science Council

Tribal Science Priority - Final June 2011

Climate Change

Issue Statement

Climate change is happening and is occurring globally. It affects almost everything in our 

environment and communities, including Tribal communities. Climate change not only poses

threats to the health of our environment and the ecological health of the biological population, it 

also poses threats to the health of our community, especially to our elders and children who are 

more sensitive to adverse impacts than the general population. Tribes are disproportionately 

impacted by climate change. Tribes and Native Alaskans have a deep-rooted connection to the 

environment in direct correlation to their culture. Most Tribes do not have a plan to mitigate 

and/or adapt to climate change and many communities have little scientific knowledge regarding 

its occurrence. Traditional lifeways may be drastically affected by environmental changes. 

Climate change presents a tremendous threat to the health of Tribal environments and 

communities.

Explanation of the Issue

Climate change has altered many of our traditional ways of life. The Tribal and Native Alaska 

people have been observing various changes in their environment, such as the reduction of Tribal 

natural ecosystems and biodiversity.

Seasons are changing. In some part of the country, the rainy season has shifted to later in the 

year. Gathering periods for native plants and animal migration patterns also have been altered.

Winters are longer. For example, a few years ago, southeast Alaska Villages experienced a cold 

front that killed all of the blooming berries during the spring. Summers are hotter and drier.

Moreover, heavy winter rain storms resulted in storm damage. Parts of the southwest Tribes 

experienced prolonged drought and enhanced threat from wildfires.

Native plants and habitats are also affected. Tribal elders and communities still gather their food 

according to the traditional knowledge with respect to seasons. Climate change may adversely 

impact the health of these communities and alter their traditional way of life by shortening and/or 

eliminating growing seasons for native plants and damaging habitats. Alaskan Tribes are 

encountering new and invasive plant and animal species that threaten native species. Tribes in 

California have noticed that production of native food sources, such as acorns, has been 

significantly lower for several years in a row. Native plants seem less available, and trees, such 

as Tan Oaks, are suffering from sudden oak death. Lastly, populations of wild animals, such as 

deer, northern spotted owl, and quail are significantly reduced and less prevalent on Tribal lands. 

Other concerns include the indirect impacts on drinking water supplies caused by rising sea

levels, and new migration patterns of animals traditionally hunted and harvested for foods.

What do Tribes and Alaska Villages Specifically Need from EPA to Address the Issue? 

Tribes need technical assistance and resources to develop and implement adaptation/mitigation 

plans to address climate change. These needs will vary from resources to support education, 
National EPA–Tribal Science Council

Tribal Science Priority - Final June 2011

outreach, and program implementation to research and technical assistance on specific scientific 

questions. 

Proposed Implementation Strategies and Potential Measures of Success

Proposed implementation strategies are:

Education and outreach: 

o Build capacity of Tribal scientists through workshops and training (e.g., courses 

of varying levels of detail on adaptation that are specific to the needs of the tribes; 

courses on various expertise that will be needed to plan and implement 

adaptation, such as hydrology, technology, energy, engineering, storm water, 

forestry, and predictability of future environmental, social, cultural, agricultural, 

and economic consequences)

o Integrate climate change education curriculum into selected Tribes as a pilot to 

empower Tribal communities to take positive actions to reduce the impacts of 

climate change 

o Provide educational outreach on climate change issues to Tribal communities

o Advocate Tribal participation in national landscape cooperatives

o Act as a climate change portal to connect the Tribes to other federal agencies

o Use Tribal-specific and culturally sensitive methods to communicate climate 

change and train the Tribes

Program implementation:

o Conduct an emissions inventory to determine the impacts of climate change on air 

quality

o Prepare an air quality sampling plan and perform air quality monitoring on Tribal 

land

o Provide tools to connect environmental decisions with public health that are 

specific to individual tribes (i.e., not aggregated national data) through 

epidemiology, public health surveys, and baseline information 

o Recognize the variability of climate change issues among individual Tribal 

communities 

Science/research:

o Document the impacts of climate change on Tribal and Native Alaska 

communities and their ecosystems

o Conduct research on climate change in Tribal and Native Alaska communities

o Study other possible potable water sources to address depleting water supplies

o Facilitate access to the most current and relevant science and best available 

technology via a clearinghouse of information (e.g., access to experts)

o Promote the science of data (including collection, storage, and maintenance) so 

that Tribes have legally defensible data and evidence to protect their natural 

resources
National EPA–Tribal Science Council

Tribal Science Priority - Final June 2011

o Develop methodologies and tools to include climate change approaches in grant 

applications

o Provide climate change modeling expertise to the Tribes (e.g., air, ecological, 

water, future scenario)

o Continue development of decision tree screening tools (e.g., T-FERST)

o Consider all aspects of water in addition to quality: quantity, storage, 

conservation, reusability

o Quantify and mitigate the social science aspects of climate change: reverse Tribal 

migration, economic collapse, influx of non-Tribal members to Tribal lands 

(environmental refugees), permanency of Tribal reservations, health and social 

service issues

o Provide tools and methodologies to allow the Tribes to perform their own 

longitudinal studies (e.g., to understand potential changes in traditional practices)

Potential measures of success are:

Documentation of the impact on climate change on Tribal and Native Alaska 

communities and their ecosystems

Report on climate change educational outreach and adaptation activities within Tribal and 

Native Alaska communities

Ownership of climate change adaptation plans specific for Tribes and Native Alaska

Share and present research, studies, and success stories at community, professional,

academic, government, and inter-government meetings and conferences

Observe behavioral changes due to implementation of climate change measures