Natalya Saprunova's photographic documentation of coastal erosion and permafrost thaw in Canada's Inuvialuit territories has earned the New Scientist Editors Award at the Earth Photo 2026 competition.

Saprunova's series captures the visible impacts of climate change on Arctic landscapes and Indigenous communities across northern Canada. The photographs document permafrost degradation, where frozen ground containing ice and organic matter thaws as temperatures rise, and coastal erosion that threatens settlements and infrastructure in the region.

The Inuvialuit, an Inuit people inhabiting the western Canadian Arctic, face accelerating environmental changes. Permafrost thaw destabilizes building foundations and traditional infrastructure. Rising ocean temperatures and changing sea ice patterns intensify coastal erosion, forcing some communities to consider relocation.

The Earth Photo 2026 competition recognizes visual storytelling that documents environmental change and scientific discovery. The New Scientist Editors Award specifically honors work that combines artistic merit with clear communication of complex environmental processes. Saprunova's selection places her among photographers using visual media to document climate impacts on vulnerable populations.

The recognition reflects growing attention to how climate change manifests across polar regions. The Arctic warms roughly twice as fast as the global average, a phenomenon called Arctic amplification. This accelerated warming triggers cascading effects: permafrost thaw releases previously frozen carbon into the atmosphere, potentially accelerating climate change further; coastal erosion displaces communities with deep historical connections to their territories; and ecosystem disruptions affect wildlife populations that Indigenous peoples depend on.

Photography serves as a powerful tool for communicating climate science to broader audiences. Images convey the human dimensions of environmental change in ways that data and statistics alone cannot. By documenting specific landscapes and communities, visual work creates accountability and urgency around climate impacts.

Saprunova's award-winning series joins a growing body of photographic