Abstract

Based on the role of permanent participants in the Arctic Council and the support for the incorporation of traditional knowledge in disaster risk reduction (DRR), this article examines the extent to which the different ways of living, perceiving the world and appropriating the nature reflected in the traditional knowledge of indigenous groups have been replicated in the measures aimed at reducing the risks of oil spills in the Arctic and their harmful consequences. The focus on DRR is particularly relevant due to the challenges that the Arctic weather and remoteness presents to oil recovery as well as the lower rate of biodegradation in cold temperatures. It is within this complex context, which involves climate change, that this article examines whether traditional knowledge has been incorporated in DRR measures adopted by the Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group (EPPR) of the Arctic Council. To develop this argument, the first section of the article draws from the literature on vulnerability to situate the potential contribution of traditional knowledge to DRR. It argues that the literature on vulnerability within international disaster law focuses on setting thresholds to inform action, resulting in a limited understanding of vulnerability. As such, the potential contribution of traditional knowledge to DRR is also limited. Through the analysis of the measures adopted by the EPPR, the second section of the article highlights that, even within a limited framework, the ways of living and perceiving the world of indigenous peoples have not been fully considered when addressing the risks posed by oil spills in the Arctic. Exploring this missed opportunity, the article suggests that further engagement with indigenous communities and their knowledge enables a more comprehensive identification and assessment of the risks posed by oil spills in the Arctic and, therefore, a more successful DRR approach.