Permafrost thaw in Alaska is more than an environmental or infrastructure crisis: it is a rapidly escalating public health disaster. Destabilization of essential infrastructure such as water treatment facilities, roads, and healthcare centers exposes rural and Native Alaskans to waterborne diseases and pathogens, food insecurity, respiratory illness, and other mental and physical health hazards. The disruption of critical infrastructure also hampers the delivery of medical services, particularly in remote areas where healthcare access is already scarce.

Join the Belfer Center’s Arctic Initiative for a discussion with environmental science and public health experts on the health impacts of permafrost thaw. Edward Alexander, Senior Arctic Fellow at Woodwell Climate Research Center and Co-Chair of Gwich’in Council International, will provide a local perspective on the evolving challenges faced by Arctic communities. Dr. N. Stuart Harris, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Founder of the Division of Space, Ecological, Arctic, and Resource-limited Medicine, will discuss the medical and logistical hurdles in responding to these growing health risks. Dr. John P. Holdren, Co-Chair of the Arctic Initiative, will offer insight into the science behind permafrost thaw and its far-reaching implications for public health and infrastructure.