How Are Alaska's National Parks Responding to the Challenges of Climate Change?

Two of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park's fleet of electric vehicles.

NPS Photo

The National Park Service has been paying close attention to climate change in Alaska and continues to find ways to respond, adapt, and lead efforts to slow climate change. The NPS conducts scientific studies and ecosystem monitoring to better understand what is happening. They have developed a list of hazards, such as thawing ground slumpage, glacier outbursts, more flooding, and coastal erosion to watch out for and protect against. They collaborate with local entities to protect communities and infrastructure. They record local and traditional knowledge to help document changes.

The NPS is also working to minimize their carbon footprint and have developed climate-friendly practices like using solar panels in new facilities, banning sale of single-use plastics by park concessionaires, using electric vehicles for park operations, operating shuttle buses and instituting timed entry to limit congestion, and reducing human impact by issuing limited hiking permits or closing sensitive areas.

The National Park Service continues to conduct extensive public outreach about climate change, why it is important, its effects on parks and park resources, and what they are doing to mitigate these impacts.