White House honors Shishmaref man as a Champion of Change for Climate Equity

July 18, 2016

Associated Press - A University of Alaska Fairbanks student has been recognized at the White House for his work advocating for communities that would be severely affected by climate change.

The Fairbanks Daily News Miner reports (http://bit.ly/29NpHh6 ) that Esau Sinnok, of Shishmaref, an island community in northwest Alaska, was among 10 people honored by the president on Friday as Champions of Change for Climate Equity.

Sinnok was recognized for his work raising awareness of climate change, particularly in the Arctic. The tribal management student at UAF says Arctic and sub-Arctic communities like Shishmaref are already losing land each year to coastal erosion.

He says Shishmaref has lost between 2,500 and 3,000 square feet to coastal erosion in the last 35 years.