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Interative science centre for children to open in Scunthorpe

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  Published in Science and Technology on Saturday, October 18th 2025 at 12:17 GMT by BBC
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The Vanishing Villages: How Climate Change is Forcing Alaska’s Indigenous Communities to Relocate

Alaska's coastline, a landscape of breathtaking beauty and vital cultural significance, is rapidly disappearing. The BBC News report "Alaska villages face relocation as climate change bites" details the escalating crisis facing numerous Indigenous communities across the state, forced to confront the stark reality that their ancestral homes are becoming uninhabitable due to accelerating climate change impacts. This isn't a future threat; it’s an ongoing displacement with profound social, cultural, and economic consequences.

The core of the problem lies in thawing permafrost and rising sea levels. Permafrost, ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years, underlies much of Alaska’s coastal regions. As temperatures rise – Alaska is warming twice as fast as the global average – this permafrost is destabilizing. This thaw weakens foundations, causes land to subside, and increases erosion rates. Simultaneously, rising sea levels, driven by thermal expansion of water and melting glaciers, directly inundate low-lying areas. The combination creates a devastating feedback loop, accelerating coastal retreat.

The report focuses on Newtok as a prime example of this crisis. For decades, the village has been battling relentless erosion from the Ninguk River. Homes are collapsing into the river, infrastructure is damaged, and the graveyard, containing generations of ancestors, is threatened. The community voted to relocate in 2019, but the process is fraught with challenges. Finding a suitable new location – one that is stable, accessible, and culturally appropriate – has proven difficult. Funding for relocation projects is limited and bureaucratic hurdles are significant. The report highlights the immense logistical complexities involved: dismantling homes, transporting them (or their contents), establishing new infrastructure, and rebuilding community life in an unfamiliar setting.

Newtok’s situation isn't unique. The article lists several other communities facing similar threats, including Shishmaref, Kivalina, and Unalakleet. Shishmaref, another village featured prominently, has been grappling with erosion for years. Residents have witnessed homes being swallowed by the sea and are increasingly concerned about the safety of their children. Kivalina, located on a narrow strip of land between the Chukchi Sea and an inland lake, faces threats from both rising seas and storm surges exacerbated by thawing permafrost. Unalakleet is experiencing increased flooding due to river ice jams and coastal erosion.

The BBC report emphasizes that this isn't simply about physical relocation; it’s a loss of cultural identity. These villages represent centuries of Indigenous history, traditions, and knowledge intimately tied to the land. The act of moving disrupts social structures, weakens traditional practices, and severs connections to ancestral burial grounds and hunting areas. The report quotes Mary Wiltenberger, a resident of Shishmaref, who poignantly describes the emotional toll of watching her community disappear.

The financial burden of relocation is substantial. While the federal government provides some funding through programs like the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Relocation Assistance Program, it's often insufficient to cover the full costs. The report notes that the cost of relocating an entire village can easily run into tens of millions of dollars. Furthermore, the process requires extensive consultation with affected communities and navigating complex legal frameworks, further delaying progress.

The article also touches upon the broader implications for Alaska’s future. As more villages are forced to relocate, the state faces a growing humanitarian crisis and significant economic challenges. The loss of these communities represents a profound cultural and historical loss for all of America. The report suggests that the situation in Alaska serves as a stark warning about the global consequences of climate change, particularly for vulnerable coastal populations worldwide.

Following a link within the BBC article to "Alaska's disappearing villages: A guide," reveals further detail on the scale of the problem. This supplementary information states that at least 31 Alaskan communities are considered “at high risk” from erosion and flooding. The guide also provides interactive maps illustrating the extent of coastal erosion across the state, visually demonstrating the widespread nature of the crisis. It highlights the disproportionate impact on Indigenous populations who have historically relied on these lands for subsistence and cultural survival. The guide underscores that relocation is often a last resort, with communities preferring to attempt protective measures like seawalls or beach nourishment – efforts which are frequently overwhelmed by the relentless forces of climate change.

The BBC report concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for increased funding, improved coordination between government agencies, and, crucially, meaningful engagement with affected communities in developing solutions. The vanishing villages of Alaska represent a tragic consequence of global inaction on climate change, demanding immediate attention and sustained commitment to supporting those whose lives are being irrevocably altered.