TNHW members have contributed to several groundbreaking research projects that address pressing health and environmental challenges in the Arctic.

CLINF Project

Co-led by TNHW member Professor Birgitta Evengård, the CLINF project investigated how climate change affects the geographic distribution and epidemiology of infectious diseases in humans and animals across the Nordic region and Russia. By compiling data from Nuuk to Yakutsk — including disease patterns, climate variables, and landscape features — CLINF was able to forecast the future spread of climate-sensitive infections (CSI) and assess their societal impacts. One of its key outputs is the publicly accessible CLINF Geographic Information System, available at https://clinf.org/

NUNATARYUK Project

This interdisciplinary initiative produced the Arctic Permafrost Atlas, a visually rich and data-driven publication that explores the changing permafrost landscape and its implications for the health and well-being of Arctic communities. The atlas highlights the lived experiences of people whose lives are closely tied to permafrost and presents strategies for adapting to its thaw. More information is available at https://nunataryuk.org/.

Public Health Surveys in Greenland

Since 1993, a series of large-scale public health surveys have been conducted across Greenland, forming a vital evidence base for health policy and planning. Led and organized by the Centre for Public Health in Greenland, these surveys are carried out in close collaboration with stakeholders at the national, municipal, and local levels. To date, five national surveys have been completed, involving over 11,700 interviews with adults from communities spanning Siorapaluk in the north to Kuummiut in the east. The surveys have tracked long-term trends in smoking, diet, diabetes, and other health indicators, and have directly informed Greenland’s public health programs Inuuneritta I to III. The most recent survey, launched in 2024, emphasizes strong local engagement and aims to strengthen both data quality and community ownership. Its findings will support evidence-based decision-making, targeted interventions, and ongoing monitoring of public health priorities in Greenland.