Beyond survival: intergenerational climate justice as a conceptual framework for Arctic climate adaptation

The Arctic is experiencing climate change at nearly four times the global rate, placing Indigenous and local communities under acute pressure to adapt. While adaptation in the region is often framed in terms of resilience and survival, such approaches risk overlooking the ethical and temporal dimensions of climate governance. This article argues that intergenerational climate justice provides a critical conceptual framework for rethinking Arctic adaptation. Drawing literature on climate adaptation and justice, the paper outlines four key pillars: continuity, inclusivity, foresight, and responsibility, that together offer a pathway “beyond survival” toward justice-oriented futures. Case examples from across the Arctic illustrate how these principles are already emerging in practice: Sámi youth movements resisting extractive land uses in Fennoscandia, Inuit advocacy linking adaptation to food security in Canada, community relocation efforts in Alaska, and youth-led litigation addressing state responsibility in Norway. These developments highlight the ways in which adaptation is inherently intergenerational, shaping not only present conditions but also the cultural and ecological legacies inherited by future generations. The article concludes that embedding intergenerational justice into adaptation strategies is essential for the Arctic and offers broader lessons for global climate governance, where short-term responses must be balanced with long-term responsibilities.