Climate Change Impact Assessment for Northern Communities: GIS-Driven Environmental Analysis

Global GeoSoft’s Climate Change Impact Assessment project for the Northwest Territories Environmental Agency was a vital initiative aimed at understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change on northern communities. The project involved developing a GIS platform that could analyze a wide range of environmental data, including temperature changes, ice melt patterns, and wildlife migration routes. This platform provided the agency with critical insights into how climate change was impacting the region, enabling them to develop targeted strategies for adaptation and mitigation.

The GIS platform was particularly valuable in visualizing the spatial and temporal dynamics of climate change in the Northwest Territories. By mapping changes in temperature and ice cover over time, the platform highlighted the regions most vulnerable to climate-related disruptions. This information was crucial for the agency as it developed policies to protect communities and ecosystems, such as identifying areas where infrastructure might be at risk or where wildlife conservation efforts were needed.

Community engagement was a key aspect of the project. Global GeoSoft worked closely with local communities and Indigenous groups to ensure that the platform incorporated traditional knowledge and addressed local concerns. This collaborative approach not only enriched the data used in the platform but also fostered greater community involvement in climate resilience efforts. The success of this project demonstrated the critical role that GIS technology plays in addressing the complex challenges of climate change, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Arctic.