The Danish-Greenlandic Environmental Cooperation
The Arctic - a part of the world
Denmark has a long tradition of supporting environmental work in the Arctic. Collaborating with Greenland is part of this, and has always been a high priority.
The backdrop is sobering. Chemicals that are slow to biodegrade are carried toward Arctic latitudes from around the world. It is well documented that these substances accumulate in the food chain, and that high concentrations of environmental poisons occur in both humans and animals. Nature in Greenland and the huge untouched expanses signal something special to most people - an unspoiled environment. Partly for that reason, it is even more disturbing that we have concrete proof that pollution knows no boarders, and that many of the environmental problems of our time can only be solved through global cooperation.
In Denmark we have chosen to lead the way with a good example. In 1993, the Danish Parliament decided that Denmark would give environmental assistance to a number of countries and regions, among them the Danish part of the Arctic.
Today, the parliament still supports environmental assistance completely, and wants a greater focus on Greenland. Our goal is to create a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.
Environmental assistance to the Arctic is an important step. However, only when we can, for example, measure a decline in the accumulation of environmental poisons in the north, will we have accomplished much with our global environmental work.
Environmental problems in the Arctic and Greenland are not "just" something that come from outside - from other countries. The work done through environmental assistance to the Arctic has revealed that Greenland and the Arctic as a whole also create their own environmental problems.
Modern hunting technology and growing population levels put pressure on fish populations, birds and mammals. Modern lifestyles lead to problems with garbage, and to greater energy consumption, which brings with it the risk of increased pollution.
That is why part of the effort should also be focused on the sustainable development of local Arctic - not least, Greenlandic - communities, as part of an everchanging world.
Svend Auken
Minister for Environment and Energy