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This thesis investigates the relationships between skills transmission and human adaptation to climate change. Elements of the relationships are empirically examined in an arctic community to document how environmental knowledge and land skills (referred to hereafter together as ‘land skills’) are transmitted among Inuit men and what role, if any, skills transmission plays in adaptation to climate change with respect to subsistence harvesting. It is well documented that climate change is already being experienced in the Arctic with implications for Inuit subsistence harvesting. The ability of Inuit to adapt to changing environmental conditions in the past has been associated with a profound knowledge of the Arctic ecosphere and land skills, which were transmitted from the older generations to the younger through hands-on training in the environment. Based on a review of vulnerability and skills transmission scholarship, a conceptual model for interpreting the relationships between skills transmission and adaptive capacity is developed. The model conceptualizes land skills as a key determinant of Inuit adaptive capacity to deal with climatic changes that affect subsistence. The ability of a hunter to draw on land skills to adapt to changing conditions also depends on whether or not a given skill has been transmitted, and transmission success depends on the level of skill mastery. The transmission of land skills was studied among Inuit men in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada. The research found that there is a difference in the rate of land skills transmission among generations, with average transmission rates lowest among younger respondents. Several skills had not been transmitted, or were transmitted incompletely among younger respondents. Whereas these same skills had been transmitted by that age among older Inuit. Changes in skills transmission are attributable to changes in the educational environment, loss of native language, absence of skills teachers, and declining levels of involvement in some subsistence activities. These factors appeared to impair the traditional mode of skills transmission and hands-on learning in the environment, resulting in several skills not being transmitted to younger respondents. Incomplete skills transmission has already reduced some individuals’ involvement in subsistence, and has increased the sensitivity of others to changing climatic conditions.

This thesis investigates the relationships between skills transmission and human adaptation to climate change. Elements of the relationships are empirically examined in an arctic community to document how environmental knowledge and land skills (referred to hereafter together as 'land skills') are transmitted among Inuit men and what role, if any, skills transmission plays in adaptation to climate change with respect to subsistence harvesting. It is well documented that climate change is already being experienced in the Arctic with implications for Inuit subsistence harvesting. The ability of Inuit to adapt to changing environmental conditions in the past has been associated with a profound knowledge of the Arctic ecosphere and land skills, which were transmitted from the older generations to the younger through hands-on training in the environment. Based on a review of vulnerability and skills transmission scholarship, a conceptual model for interpreting the relationships between skills transmission and adaptive capacity is developed. The model conceptualizes land skills as a key determinant of Inuit adaptive capacity to deal with climatic changes that affect subsistence. The ability of a hunter to draw on land skills to adapt to changing conditions also depends on whether or not a given skill has been transmitted, and transmission success depends on the level of skill mastery. The transmission of land skills was studied among Inuit men in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada. The research found that there is a difference in the rate of land skills transmission among generations, with average transmission rates lowest among younger respondents. Several skills had not been transmitted, or were transmitted incompletely among younger respondents. Whereas these same skills had been transmitted by that age among older Inuit. Changes in skills transmission are attributable to changes in the educational environment, loss of native language, absence of skills teachers, and declining levels of involvement in some subsistence activities. These factors appeared to impair the traditional mode of skills transmission and hands-on learning in the environment, resulting in several skills not being transmitted to younger respondents. Incomplete skills transmission has already reduced some individuals' involvement in subsistence, and has increased the sensitivity of others to changing climatic conditions.

This thesis aims to examine whether government policies in the early years are likely to influence health inequalities, using information derived from a range of sources to contribute to the 'jigsaw of evidence', and focussing on two case studies featuring high on the Labour government agenda: the first a measure of health (unintentional injury) and the second a policy (childcare). Scoping reviews were used to map areas requiring further research for each case study. A review of policy documents helped set the policy context, and secondary datasets were utilised to describe prevalence, trends and inequalities. Following this some of the less researched associations identified in the scoping reviews were explored, using data from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). An analysis investigating whether the home environment lay on the causal pathway between socio-economic circumstances (SECs) and unintentional injuries found that controlling for a number of proxy measures for housing quality and safety equipment use did not alter the social gradient in injuries occurring in the home. A second analysis exploring a measure of main childcare use in relation to injuries found that infants (aged 9 months) from more advantaged SECs were less likely to have been unintentionally injured (anywhere) since birth if they were looked after in formal childcare (compared to those looked after only by a parent). In contrast, those from less advantaged SECs appeared to be at greater risk of injury. Informal childcare was associated with an increased risk of injury between 9 months and 3 years, overall and in less advantaged SECs. Two further analyses explored breastfeeding and overweight in relation to childcare use. Informal and formal childcare were both associated with a reduced likelihood of breastfeeding, and whilst this remained the case for informal childcare across all social groups, for formal childcare the reduced likelihood of breastfeeding was only observed in those from more advantaged groups. Children who were looked after in informal childcare appeared to be more likely to be overweight at 3 years than those only looked after by a parent, particularly if they were from more advantaged SECs. These results were then synthesised in light of current and potential policy. The analyses were conducted with observational data and using proxy measures for the home environment and main childcare use, therefore further research is required. Findings imply that improvements to the home environment may not necessarily influence inequalities in injuries (although are likely to benefit other areas of health and wellbeing). Main childcare type appeared to be associated with better health outcomes for some social groups but not for others; further research is required to ascertain how these benefits can be recognised for all groups, for example through improved training and guidance for childcare professionals. This thesis demonstrates the use of epidemiological information for contributing to the 'jigsaw of evidence', but also the complexities of considering policy impacts on health inequalities.