While evidence of climate change is all around us, nowhere are the effects more visible than the Inupiat Eskimo village of Shishmaref. It's a tiny community which sits just north of the Bering Strait, in Alaska. It's one of the most eroded places in the state, if not globally. There are only about 600 residents and in a recent election, those eligible voted 89 to 78 to move the community to a more inland location on the mainland. It's easier said than done however
An estimate by the Army Corps of Engineers puts the cost of relocating at $180 million. Staying put, while theoretically possible, would cost about $110 million and there are no guarantees environmental protections would work. It's an issue that has been voted on before by residents, but funding issues kept it from happening. Mayor Howard Weyiouanna Sr. told The Associated Press last month that some sort of solution must be found."Doing nothing is not an option," he said.
