Global warming impacts Alaska's businesses: climate change brings mix of curses, blessings to state.

• Author: Williams, Deborah
• Position: ENVIRONMENTAL

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

"WITH OUR 34,000 MILES OF COASTLINE (MORE THAN THE REST OF THE NATION COMBINED), ALASKA OFFERS EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TESTING AND IMPLEMENTING WAVE AND TIDAL POWER."

-Deborah Williams, President, Alaska Conservation Solutions

For Alaska's business community, there is both challenging news and good news associated with global warming. The difficult news is that Alaska is experiencing widespread, expensive, adverse impacts from climate change that are well documented. The good news is that Alaska is well-positioned to be a significant part of the solution to reducing greenhouse gases by seizing the significant economic opportunities associated with renewable energy.

While the earth has warmed approximately 1 degree Fahrenheit in the last 50 years, according to the National Assessment Synthesis Team, Alaska has warmed approximately 4 degrees. In many ways, Alaska is the "Paul Revere of Global Warming," and serves as our nation's sentinel for the assault of British Thermal Units (BTU) associated with rising temperatures. The impacts in the Last Frontier are pervasive and include damage to Alaska's infrastructure, economy, water bodies and wetlands, vegetation, ice, glaciers, permafrost, animals, health, quality of life and indigenous cultures. This article will focus on the impacts to Alaska's infrastructure and economy.

INFRASTRUCTURE THREAT

Because global warming in Alaska is causing accelerated shoreline erosion, melting permafrost and greater flooding, infrastructure is being damaged. In a comprehensive study, the University of Alaska Anchorage Institute of Social and Economic Research has determined that damage to Alaska from climate change will likely add $3.6 billion to $6.1 billion to future costs for public infrastructure from now to 2030.

In some cases global warming is forcing entire communities to relocate. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has concluded that Shishmaref, Kivalina and Newtok have only 10 to 15 years left at their present locations, and predicts that it will cost as much as $355 million to move these villages. Over the last few decades, some shorelines have retreated more than 1,500 feet. In one area in Western Alaska, Newtok has lost 2 to 3 miles of shore in 40 years. According to a General Accounting Office estimate, approximately 184 communities are at risk from flooding and erosion.

In the long run, sea-level rise and major storm surges represent two of the greatest threats to Alaska's coastal infrastructure. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change conservatively estimates that sea level will rise by 7 to 23 inches by 2100. With respect to storm surges, we have already experienced 9-foot surges in Alaska in 2005.

COSTLY TIMBER DAMAGE

Many sectors of Alaska's economy have been negatively impacted by global warming.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The oil industry has experienced a much shorter winter season in which to build ice roads and otherwise traverse the tundra for exploratory and drilling activities. Even in...