Perceptions of Climate Change in Local Arctic Communities: An Analysis of Subjective Assessments and Meteorological Observations

Annotation

Studying the population’s perceptions of climate change is an important component of solving the problem of identifying effective measures for adapting to ongoing processes. In the regions of the Russian Arctic, which are significantly affected by climate transformations, this aspect has not been sufficiently studied. The aim of this article is to identify the features of the subjective perception of climate change by the population of local Arctic territories. The object of the study is the population of the municipal settlement “Pinezhskoe” of the Pinezhskiy Municipal District of the Arkhangelsk Oblast. The main research method was a large-scale standardized public survey conducted in 2023. The authors compared the results of the sociological survey with actual meteorological observation data from the Pinega weather station. The study revealed a fairly high degree of correspondence between the population’s subjective perception of climate change and such climatic trends as a more intensive temperature rise in winter compared to summer, an extension of the off-season periods, and an increase in the frequency of wind gusts. The population also notes sharp temperature fluctuations during the winter, the occurrence of heatwaves in summer, thaws in winter and frosts in summer, which was confirmed by an analysis of actual meteorological data. The following feature of the subjective perception of climate change has been identified: the population is less likely to observe natural processes and phenomena, indicating climate change, and is more likely to feel the specific consequences that affect their human activities and social well-being. Climate change has the greatest impact on the health of the population, the comfort of living in the region during the off-season, and the possibility of ensuring traditional natural resources use. The obtained results can be used to improve regional climate change adaptation plans based on new local knowledge.

About authors

Anna A. Provorova, Researcher
N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, pr. Nikolskiy, 20, Arkhangelsk, Russia
aashirikova@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4573-2761

Olga V. Gubina, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Senior Researcher
N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, pr. Nikolskiy, 20, Arkhangelsk, Russia
welcomeforyou@yandex.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3678-3911

Keywords

perception of climate change, local Arctic communities, climate change consequences, Russian Arctic

DOI

https://doi.org/10.37482/issn2221-2698.2026.63.302

UDC

[316.4+364.2+551.582.1](985)(045)