Part 9/10:
Economic opportunities in Svalbard have shifted from traditional coal mining to research and tourism. The local University Center attracts students and scientists keen to study climate change and Arctic conditions firsthand. However, the community faces significant challenges, including a lack of a welfare system and the requirement for self-sufficiency among residents.
Climate change poses an urgent threat, with rising temperatures affecting permafrost, glaciers, and ecosystems, significantly altering daily life in Svalbard. As the region grapples with these changes, both community members and environmental scientists are witnessing the real-time impacts on their landscape and livelihoods.