Greenland and Iceland in the New Arctic
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December 2020 Greenland and Iceland in the New Arctic Recommendations of the Greenland Committee Appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Co-operation Greenland and Iceland in the New Arctic Recommendations of the Greenland Committee Appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Co-operation Publisher: The Ministry for Foreign Affairs December 2020 utn.is | [email protected] Layout and text processing: The Ministry for Foreign Affairs/Hildur Sigurðardóttir ©2020 The Ministry for Foreign Affairs ISBN 978-9935-9582-4-2 Graenland-A4-enska.pdf 1 09/12/2020 13:51 December 2020 Qaanaaq Thule Air Base Avannaata Kommunia Kalaallit nunaanni Nuna eqqissisimatiaq (Northeast Greenland National Park) C Upernavik M Y CM MY Uummannaq CY Ittoqqortoormiit CMY K Qeqertarsuaq Ilulissat Aasiaat Kangaatsiaq Qasigiannguit Kommuneqarfik Kommune Sermersooq Quqertalik Sisimiut Qeqqata 2.166.086 km2 Kommunia total area Maniitsoq 80% Tasiilaq is covered by ice sheet Nuuk 21x the total area of Iceland 44.087 km length of coastline Paamiut Kommune Kujalleq Ivittuut 3.694 m highest point, Narsarsuaq Gunnbjørn Fjeld Narsaq Qaqortoq 56.081 population Nanortalik 3 Greenland and Iceland in the New Arctic Table of Contents Preface. ............................................................ 10 Main Recommendations .................................................. 12 I. Framework Agreement and Parliamentary Resolution .................... 12 II. Ten Recommendations .............................................. 12 1. Bilateral Trade Agreement ........................................ 12 2. After School Centre in Tasiilaq .................................... 12 3. Support for Vulnerable People ....................................13 4. Development of Distance Learning ................................13 5. New Comprehensive Fisheries Agreement ..........................13 6. Search and Rescue ..............................................13 7. Small Power Plants in East Greenland ..............................13 8. International Think Tank .........................................14 9. Health Care Agreement ..........................................14 10. Arctic Centre ..................................................14 1. Greenland and Iceland in the New Arctic ................................ 15 1.1 Global Effects of Melting ............................................16 1.2 New Shipping Routes ..............................................18 1. The Northeast Passage. ..........................................18 2. The Northwest Passage. ..........................................18 3. The Central Sea Route. ...........................................18 1.3 Resources ........................................................20 1.4 Power Play in the Arctic ............................................ 21 1.5 Withdrawal from the Arctic. 23 1.6 China and the Arctic ...............................................26 1.7 New Policy Development – the USA Awakens ..........................29 1.8 Unexpected Emphasis on Iceland ....................................30 1.9 Greenland and the United States ....................................32 1.10 Co-operation and External Connections ..............................33 1.11 Mutual Benefits ...................................................35 4 December 2020 2. Land and Society ....................................................38 2.1 Population and Predicted Decline ....................................38 2.2 Towns and Villages ................................................40 2.3 Vast Municipalities ................................................43 2.4 Four languages ....................................................44 2.5 Income Distribution – Employment ..................................48 2.6 Conflicts and Adjustment ...........................................50 1. Greatly Reduced Alcohol Consumption .............................52 2. Lower Crime Rate ...............................................53 3. Increased Life Expectancy ........................................53 4. High Suicide Rate ...............................................54 3. Government Structure and Politics .....................................56 3.1 Government Structure and Administration ............................56 3.2 Foreign Policy and Security Issues ...................................59 3.3 Contemporary Politics ..............................................64 3.4 From Colony to Modern Times .......................................65 3.5 Icelanders in Greenland ............................................ 71 4. Infrastructure Development ........................................... 72 4.1 Water Collection, Sewerage, Waste Disposal ........................... 72 4.2 Healthcare Services ................................................75 4.3 Transportation in Adverse Conditions ................................76 4.4 Telecommunication – Network Connectivity ...........................78 4.5 Energy Production and Power Stations ...............................80 4.6 Consumer Goods in Rural Areas .....................................82 4.7 Road Network .....................................................83 4.8 Education and Learning ............................................84 4.9 Media, Culture and Arts ............................................89 4.10 Sports ...........................................................91 5 Greenland and Iceland in the New Arctic 5. First-Class Fishing Industry ............................................94 5.1 Greenland's Economic Upswing ......................................96 5.2 The Importance of Dinghy Fishing ...................................97 5.3 A New and Transparent System of Fishing Fees .......................100 5.4 The Giants of Greenland ........................................... 101 5.5 Iceland Rides the Wave ...........................................102 5.6 Recommendations: ...............................................103 1. New comprehensive agreement on fisheries .......................103 2. Co-operation between research institutions .......................104 3. Joint cod research. 106 4. Business co-operation ...........................................111 5. Training in fishing technology ....................................112 6. Greenlandic ocean cluster .......................................113 7. Processing of pelagic catches. ................................... 114 6. Tourism Prepares for Take-Off .........................................115 6.1 Introduction ......................................................115 6.2 The Current State of Greenland's Tourism Industry .....................117 6.3 Key Institutions ..................................................120 1. Visit Greenland ................................................120 2. Air Greenland ................................................. 122 3. The Airport Revolution – Kalaallit Airports ........................ 123 4. Arctic Tourism – Campus Kujalleq ................................ 125 6.4 Opportunities in Tourism .......................................... 127 6.5 Possible Areas for Co-operation ....................................130 6.6 Recommendations ...............................................136 1. Joint Marketing ................................................136 2. Collaboration of Tourism Administrations. 136 3. Regular Workshops on Hot Topics ................................ 137 4. Dissemination of Solutions and Innovations. 137 5. Icelandic Internship for Greenlandic Arctic Guides ................. 137 6 December 2020 6. Tourism Satellite Accounts ......................................138 7. Skills for Low-Cost Infrastructure .................................138 8. Conservation of Icelandic Heritage Sites ..........................138 9. ATWS Travel World Summit ......................................139 10. Arctic Infrastructure Investment Fund ............................139 7. Mining in Greenland .................................................140 7.1 Metals and Precious Stones .........................................141 7.2 Rare Earth Metals (REMs) ..........................................142 7.3 Competitive Physical Advantages ...................................144 7.4 Greenland - Focal Point of Attention ................................146 7.5 Sound Governance and Stability .................................... 147 7.6 Plans for Large-Scale Mining .......................................148 7.7 Labour Force - Service Businesses - Binational Co-operation ...........150 7.8 Potential Areas for Co-operation .................................... 152 7.9 Recommendations ................................................156 8. Extensive Opportunities for Co-operation .............................158 8.1 Leaders, Ministries, Institutions .....................................159 8.2 Information, Knowledge, Image ....................................164 8.3 Red Cross Support Projects ........................................166 8.4 Planet Youth - The Icelandic Prevention Model .......................168 8.5 Sports Co-operation .............................................. 170 8.6 Distance learning - An Innovative project by the Universities in Nuuk and Akureyri .................................. 173 8.7 Health Care Co-operation ......................................... 176 8.8 Radiation Protection ..............................................180 8.9 Search and Rescue ............................................... 181 8.10 Hydroelectric Power