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Climate Research Centre Inaugurated in Greenland

With a few weeks to go before the UN Climate Summit, a new "climate university" or research centre is being inaugurated today in Greenland, where the climate changes can be studied just outside the door.

Science Minister Helge Sander was prevented from attending the opening because of technical problems with the aircraft from Copenhagen to Greenland Monday morning.

Today, Denmark and Greenland are celebrating the opening of the new Climate Research Centre in Nuuk. The Centre is to focus on the impact of the climate changes on nature and communities.

– The Arctic regions are particularly vulnerable to climate changes, and in Greenland the changes are already visible. So it is an obvious idea to place some of our climate research initiatives here, says Science Minister Helge Sander, who had to call off his participation in the official opening earlier in the day because the flight from Copenhagen to Søndre Strømfjord in Greenland was cancelled due to technical problems.
– I regret of course that I missed this opportunity to congratulate the Greenland Home Rule Government and the researchers on their new "climate university", says Helge Sander.

The Climate Research Centre is located at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources in Nuuk and is headed by Professor Søren Rysgaard. The first nine specific research projects have already been launched. Some of the headings are: Climate effects on land-based ecosystems and living resources in Greenland, satellite monitoring of Greenland waters, and the impact of glaciers near the coast.

A climate research survey has demonstrated that Danish climate research constitutes a small, but internationally recognised, field of research, with results often being quoted in international researcher circles.

Following the agreement on the Finance Act for 2010, a total grant of DKK 75 million has been provided by Denmark as expected in the decision to establish the Centre. The Greenland Home Rule Government contributes by way of accommodation, offices and secretarial assistance.

Science Minister Helge Sander can be contacted via Communications Manager Niels Hovmand on mobile +45 40 82 89 58 or e-mail nho@vtu.dk .

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