The Contribution of Space Technologies to Arctic Policy Priorities

8.2.2 Policy The policy review indicated a limited amount of discussion related specifically to educational activities in the Arctic. yy Sweden’s Strategy for the Arctic Region: This policy notes that education and research are also included as important activities to support economic development, particularly education in the field of mining and the mineral industry. yy The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People specifically addresses issues such as connectivity and education, and provides guidance on harmonious, cooperative relationships with Indigenous peoples. yy Canada’s Northern Strategy puts on emphasis on increasing investment in education and employability programs. 8.2.3 Role of Satellite Systems COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS (Impact High) Efficient, affordable, reliable communications technology is a necessary modern technology in isolated northern communities to support effective education systems. Access to broadband internet can facilitate distance learning, on-line courses, file sharing, video uploads and other on-line educational support tools. 8.3 Health 8.3.1 Overview Health (or medical) care includes goods and services that provide patients with curative, preventive, rehabilitative, and palliative care. The health care sector includes: hospitals, medical and dental practices, and other human health facilities (e.g., scientific or diagnostic laboratories, pathology clinics, residential health facilities, ambulance services, etc.). These services and facilities are often very limited in the Arctic, andmay be inaccessible or very difficult to access by a significant proportion of the population, making the use of air transportation particularly critical. Given the remoteness of communities and the scattering of the population over very large geographical areas, new approaches to health care such as telemedicine (i.e., the use of telecommunication and information technologies to provide clinical health care at a distance) has promise for the Arctic. However, the use of such new approaches is highly dependent upon the availability of robust and reliable high bandwidth communications. 8.3.2 Policy There is limited reference tohealthcare in theArcticnations’ policy documents, with only three countries specifically referencing this as part of their policy priorities. However, numerous international conventions highlight the need for health services for northern communities and the need to monitor environmental conditions that can adversely impact human health. yy Canada’s Northern Strategy makes a commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Arctic residents. This will be implemented through Territorial Formula Financing for schools, hospitals and social services; making health care more responsive to northern needs, including reduced yy Russia’s Arctic Policy to 2020 includes an investment in social infrastructure including education.

conventional weather forecasts are used by all individuals engaged in travel over larger distances.

NAVIGATION SYSTEMS (Impact Medium)

Indigenous peoples in the Arctic have adapted to modern technologies very quickly and apply GNSS technology to navigate through a very hostile and unforgiving terrain to visit other communities, travel to hunting and fishing destinations, etc. The ability to use GNSS for navigation has a significant positive impact on the safety of travel for indigenous peoples and enables navigation via the shortest and safest route, important in reducing travel time, fuel costs, equipment wear and greenhouse gas emissions. EO can be used to produce maps and other real-time information products that allow hunters and fishers to safely navigate around dangerous areas, including ice ridges, moving ice or stretches of open water. With this additional information hunters/fishers are better able to plan the shortest and safest route to their destination. The information is vital to augmenting traditional knowledge that previously guided travel routes, but which is now impacted by climate change, thus making it less reliable. This is important in reducing travel time, fuel costs, equipment wear and greenhouse gas emissions. Travel by northerners is largely restricted to ice roads and nearshore, land-fast ice. Accordingly, the use of EO in support of traditional livelihoods is primarily based on all-year, 24h capabilities of satellite SAR imagery, and its proficiency for ice mapping. Optical data is considered useful in general, but is generally of limited availability due to prevalent cloud cover. The context in which EO data is beneficial is similar to applications in transportation efficiency and safety described earlier. EARTH OBSERVATION SYSTEMS (Impact Medium)

8.2 Education 8.2.1 Overview

The EU and other Arctic nations have allocated significant resources to foster the development of education systems that are not only sensitive to Arctic conditions but that are designed to provide students with the skills required to thrive in the northern communities. Key issues include:

yy Development and restructuring of the higher education system;

yy Management training for entrepreneurs;

yy Incorporation of new technologies to deliver distance education of high quality

yy Provision of instruction in native languages;

yy Development of networks between universities

yy Student teacher exchange programs and specialized training in social work, health care and physical education.

43 8. INDIGENOUS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT