Paper short abstract:

In Longyearbyen at 78 degrees north, climate change is happening fast. Yet the essentially unsustainable settlement keeps developing, invests in tourism and struggles with growing inequality. How do different groups relate to climate change and how do they make sense of the changing world?

Paper long abstract:

At the margins of Europe, the northernmost human settlement of Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen witnesses rapid changes and embodies several fundamental dilemmas of our era. Climate change is fastest there in Europe, with annual temperature increase by 5 °C since 1970s and projections (if CO2 emissions stay high) foreseeing 10 °C more on average by 2100. The impact is already significant: less sea ice, higher temperatures, permafrost thaw, more precipitation including heavy rain, shorter winter season, avalanche and landslide danger. At the same time, the ecological footprint per capita is probably highest in whole Europe since the place is uninhabitable, everything is flown up, Norway runs its only coal power plant there, plus the only viable economic future seems to be tourism. The priviledged in Longyearbyen are Norwegians employed by the state, the underpriviledged are those dependent on private markets both in terms of jobs and housing. Perception of climate change among Longyearbyen's residents varies from denial and mocking to deep concern and even fear. Some cannot relate to the issue at all since they are too busy worrying about satisfying their basic needs. The paper narrates how different groups make sense of the changing world, depending on their worldviews, life stories and position in the community. A unique quintessence of the rich global North, a town only for the fit and wealthy," still faces climate change as a problem to be solved by technological means. Yet there are signs of changing attitudes on the individual level.